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YALE STUDIES IN ENGLISH
ALBERT S. COOK, Editor
LXI
PURITY
A MIDDLE ENGLISH POEM
EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY
BY
ROBERT J. MENNER
Instructor in English in Yale University
A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School
of Yale University in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
NEW HAVEN: YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MDCCCCXX
iw
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
BLOOMINGTON
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I
138642
k-nf. /6-f'SO
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§ PREFACE
The publication of this edition of Purity, which was pre-
sented as a doctoral dissertation in 1918, was delayed for a
year because of my absence on military service. Mean-
while, the text of the poem had been discussed in two
articles, first by Bateson ( Modern Language Review
13. 3 77-86), and later by Gollancz {ibid. 14. 152-62). A
third important article, by Emerson ( Publications of th$
Modern Language Association 34. 494-522), appeared when
this edition was ready for the press. Although I have
taken note of what seemed to me the most significant of the
many suggestions made in these articles, I was unable, at this
late date, to discuss some of them as thoroughly as I should
have liked. Professor Emerson proposed several emend-
( ations that I had already adopted in the text, the most im-
portant being teme for tonne of the manuscript (655) ;
nomon (I change further to nomen) for no mon (1002) ;
and bolle for bolde (1474). In these and other cases where
he has anticipated me, and in most cases where my interpre-
tation differs from his, I have thought it advisable to leave
my notes as they stood, and simply to add a reference to his
article.
I have adopted the title Purity, instead of Cleanness or
Clannesse, for the reasons given by Osgood in the preface
to his edition of The Pearl.
This edition was undertaken at the suggestion of Pro-
fessor Albert Stanburrough Cook. I wish to express my
thanks to him for his helpful advice throughout the pre-
paration of it, though I feel that I owe him an even greater
debt of gratitude for his direction and encouragement of my
previous studies.
A portion of the expense of printing this thesis has been
borne by the English Club of Yale University, from funds
placed at its disposal by the generosity of the late Mr.
George E. Dimock, a graduate of Yale in the Class of 1874.
Yale University,
May, 1920.
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V
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CONTENTS
Introduction vii
Text i
Notes 6 7
Glossary .119
Bibliography 215
Appendix 221
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INTRODUCTION
I. THE MANUSCRIPT
A small quarto volume in the British Museum, Cotton
MS. Nero Ax + 4 (new numbering) contains, bound
between two Latin manuscripts, the unique manuscript 1 of
the four poems generally attributed to the author of Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight . Purity, which occupies
folios 6ia-86a, follows The Pearl, and precedes Patience
and Gawain. Several crude pictures illustrate episodes in
the poems. Of the two which precede Purity, the first
represents Noah and his family in the ark, and the
second shows Daniel expounding the writing on the wall to
Belshazzar and the queen.
The manuscript is written in a small, sharp handwriting,
which varies considerably in size, of the late fourteenth
century. 2 It is in many places very difficult to read, owing
partly to the paleness of the ink, which has often faded so
much that passages are hardly legible, and partly to the
fact that certain lines have been blotted on the pages
opposite them. Often the words have been so fully printed
on the opposite page that one can read them plainly with
the aid of a mirror. Dr. Knott pointed out the existence
and value of these ‘offsets/ as he calls them, in the text
of Gawain, where they furnish in some cases the only
1 The best description of the MS. is that by Sir Frederick Madden -
in his edition of Sir Gawayne (London, 1839), pp. xlvii- 1 . For the
history of the MS. see also Gollancz’s preface to his edition of
Patience (London, 1915).
2 Madden, p. 301, ‘reign of Richard IF; Ward, Catalogue of
Romances in the British Museum 1. 387, ‘end of the fourteenth
century'; Gollancz, preface to Patience, ‘end of fourteenth or early
part of fifteenth century.'
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viii
Introduction
evidence for the original reading. 1 In Purity , in addition
to the offsets of a few letters on folios 74b and 75b, unim-
portant because the text is here perfectly legible, almost
all the initial words in the lines of fol. 64a, 11. 217-52, have
been partly impressed on fol. 63b. Since these words on
64a are often extremely faint and hardly decipherable, the
offset is, in this last case, of some slight value in establish-
ing and confirming the readings of the text, for instance,
the initial bot of 1. 226; but here too the offset is for the
most part even less distinct that the original words. 2
The offsets are less important for the text than the addi-
tions and corrections to the manuscript by a second hand,
which sometimes obscure the original reading. In his
second edition Morris noted the fact that sorewe of 1 . 778
and broper of 1. 924 (see notes on both these lines) were
written by a later hand over the original. But there are
traces of what is probably the hand of this same corrector
in a great many other words and passages. In some cases
the original scribe’s letters have been merely retraced; but
in others the corrector’s hand is more certainly betrayed
by letters of a type that the original scribe never uses. The
following letters most strikingly distinguish the corrector’s
hand from that of the scribe: the corrector’s a is like a
modern printed a, whereas the scribe’s is formed by two
converging upright strokes and a cross-stroke; the cor-
rector’s e is a curved e made with one stroke and usually
very flat, whereas the scribe’s is made sharply with two
strokes ; the corrector’s d has at the top a marked curl to
the right, which the scribe’s lacks; the corrector uses a
1 Mod. Lang. Notes 30. 102-8.
2 Offsets are very frequent in The Pearl , where every large initial
letter is visible, some very distinctly, on the opposite page. With a
mirror considerable sections may be easily read off, e. g., on folios
47a and 48b (so at least in Osgood’s photographs deposited in the
Yale University Library), but they are of no value, as the original
is also easily legible.
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I. The Manuscript
ix
Greek s never used by the scribe. For the sake of con-
venience I give here a list of those words and passages in
which the writing of the scribe has been tampered with. 1
The letters which cannot be the scribe’s are italicized, and it
is fairly certain that the words or passages in which they
occur were corrected by the same man ; but in other cases,
though evidence of retracing is plain, it is possible that the
attempts to make the faded parts of the manuscript more
legible were not all due to this corrector: 108 sw(elt) ;
245-52 the ends of all these lines, and possibly more, on
fol. 64a have been partly retraced; 245 towched; 247 \>e
vengiaunce (prob. written over vengaunce) ; 248 make had
never; 249 for^rast al t>at J>ryve schuld; 250 (m)ercyles
(and) mawgre much scheued; 251 fyl{)e upon folde J)at
J>e folk used; 252 wythouten any maysterz; 257 ?ffor (and
possibly more at the top of fol. 64b); 322 boskez; 323
I schal waken; 324 alle \>at; 431 ?(was)ted; 778 so rewe
(see note); 918 (foo)schip; 922 (for)sake; 923 out of;
924 broker ; 928 wore, and probably a few other letters on
fol. 73b; 1015 l >er faur (see note), is (inserted above
line) 2 ; 1664 J>at w eldes; 1669 one (added to end of line,
see note).
1 According to Dr. Knott {Mod. Lang. Notes 30. 108), the words
in the second hand, which appear in Gaw. 43, 81, etc., are written
in a dark brown ink. This can naturally not be seen in my roto-
graphs, and I have no means of determining whether the same
corrector is at work in both poems. An examination of the manu-
script would probably settle this, and would also, if the same
difference in ink appears in Purity, lead to a more precise
delimitation of retraced passages than I am able to give.
* Four other instances of insertions above the line occur, on, 432 ;
synne, 520; wont, 739; the el of Daniel, 1756; but the writing is
in each case so small that it is impossible to tell whether or not it
is the scribe’s. Omissions were undoubtedly made in each case,
and I think that, with the exception of synne, 520, all these inser-
tions are correct, whether by the scribe or not. Even is of 1015,
which is almost certainly inserted by the second hand, because of
the peculiar s, seems indispensable.
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X
Introduction
The scribe’s own handwriting, even where there is no
question of revision, offers difficulties. In addition to fre-
quent repetitions and omissions due to carelessness, it is
very hard to distinguish some of his letters: there is
usually no difference between u and n; a t whose cross-
stroke is careless frequently looks like a c; bo, because the
two letters are combined, cannot be distinguished from lo;
nor ha from la for the same reason, if the second stroke
of the h is not distinct below the line.
In printing the text, peculiarities of the manuscript in
the division of words and capitalization have been disre-
garded . 1 I and j, u and v have been normalized, and g,
when it was written for z, so printed. The ordinary abbre-
viations for and, with, pou, pat, n, -e , 2 -er, -es, -us, -(w)r , 3
1 For the scribe's peculiarities in the division of words, see Osgood,
The Pearl , p. x, n. i.
2 It is difficult to determine when the strokes through long letters
are intended for abbreviations and when they are mere flourishes.
I have followed Morris in considering a stroke starting from the
first stroke of h and with a decided upward crook an abbreviation
for e in bilooghe, 116; innoghe, 297, 669, 1303; loghe, 366; also
wyrle, 475. But there is frequently a straight stroke from a long
letter which is certainly a mere flourish, since in some cases, e. g.,
ho 1126, an e would be out of the question. Only one of these, kyth,
912, is noted by Morris and expanded to kythe, but the stroke here
resembles that in the words below, and not at all the stroke with
the crook which I have considered an abbreviation. The following
words have this meaningless flourish: after b in be, 123, 173;
brentest, 379; bryngez , 636; biseged, 1180; after h in kyth, 912;
ho, 1126; heged, 1584; after / in l eve, 401, 1114; whyl, 1493.
8 The curl above o, which previous editors of poems of this manu-
script expanded consistently ur, was apparently used by the scribe
more generally to represent simply an r (cf. Cook, Mod. Phil.
6. 199 on the rhymes of The Pearl). I have regularly expanded the
abbreviation r, since such a word as corte never has ur when it
is actually written out (191, 1109, 1530, 1562, 1751) and yor (once
expanded yor, 715) is elsewhere consistently written yd (94*,
618, 620, 801). The expansion to r, not ur, is further justified by
the occurrence of the abbreviation in such words as for, 756,
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II. The Works of the Author of Purity xi
etc., have been expanded without italics, and, except for
special cases, and for those words or letters which I
have expanded differently from previous editors, without
comment.
II. THE WORKS OF THE AUTHOR OF PURITY
Scholars have generally agreed in attributing to the author
of Purity the other three poems found in the same manu-
script 1 : Patience, The Pearl, and Sir Gazvain and the Green
Knight. Attempts have been made to add several other
poems to this group, and particularly to identify the author
of Gawain with the author of the Pistill of Susan, the much-
discussed Huchown of the Awle Ryale , 2 to whom, at one
time or another, have been assigned almost all the anony-
mous poems of the Middle English alliterative school. At
present there is no valuable evidence for the attribution to
the Gawain-poet of any other poems than the four men-
tioned above, and possibly the saint’s legend called Erken-
forferde, 560, por, 1384, worschyp, 1127 (written out without u in
545, 651, 1120, 1592, 1616, 1802). In the following few cases, how-
ever, I have expanded ur, because other instances of the words
written out with ur occurred: bour, 322, 1075, 1126 (written out
bour 129), fourre, 1244 (written out fowre, 540), tour, 216, 1189
(written out toures, 1383).
1 Morris, Sir Gawayn and the Green Knight (1864), title-page;
Trautraann, Uber Verfasser und Entstehungszeit einiger Alliter -
ierender Gedichte (1876), pp. 25-33, and Angl. X. n8ff.; Ten Brink,
Geschichte der Englischen Litteratur (1877) 1. 420 ff.; M. C.
Thomas, Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight (1883), pp. 1-12;.
Knigge, Die Sprache des Dichters von Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight (1885), pp. 1-14. Practically all those who have made
special investigations of, or edited any of these poems, e. g^, Fuhr-
mann, Gollancz, C. F. Brown, Osgood, Bateson, have accepted the
opinion and arguments of the writers just mentioned.
2 Neilson, ' Huchown of the Awle Ryale / the Alliterative Poet .
Glasgow, 1902.
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xii
Introduction
wald , 1 which was either written by the Gawain-poet or by
some one who was closely imitating his style. The unjusti-
fied reliance of some of the earlier investigators on
similarities of vocabulary and phraseology, together with
the accumulation of evidence tending to disprove the com-
mon authorship of many alliterative poems once connected,
has even aroused a certain amount of skepticism concerning
the common authorship of the four traditionally assigned
to the poet of Purity , 2 Gawain, in particular, has been
singled out by Schofield 3 as unlikely to have been written
by the poet of Purity, Patience, and The Pearl . The two
homilies, Purity and Patience, based on the same text in
Matthew, are so precisely similar in general development
and in numerous details 4 that, in spite of their difference
in length, they may naturally be regarded as sister-poems.
The Pearl is linked to these homilies, 5 not only by its pro-
found religious feeling and its moral earnestness, but by
such striking relations of detail as the praise of the pearl
{Pur, 1117-28), and the repeated mention of the Beatific
Vision (see note on 1 . 25). That a poet of such religious
fervor should have also written the best of the Middle
English romances is indeed matter for comment.
Nevertheless the evidence that Purity and Gawain were
1 Trautmann ( Angl . Anz . 5. 23-5) and Knigge (pp. 4-8) tried to
show that Erkenwald belonged to the Gawain-poet, because of
similarities in vocabulary, phraseology, and style; C. F. Brown
( Publ . Mod, Lang, Ass, 19. 126, n. 2) thinks that the abundance
of legendary matter in Erkenwald is an objection to the theory of
common authorship. The subject needs further investigation.
2 Wells’ statement ( Manual of the Writings in Middle English ,
p. 578) that 'the evidence for authorship by one writer is very
questionable/ is extreme.
8 Publ, Mod, Lang, Ass, 24. 668, n. 1.
4 These are given in their proper places in the Notes. Cf. Bateson,
Patience (2d ed., Manchester, 1918), pp. xxi-ii.
5 On the authorship of The Pearl, see especially Trautmann, Angl.
1. 118-20.
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II. The Works of the Author of Purity xiii
written by one and the same man seems about as conclusive
as any indirect evidence can be. The fact that some unre-
liable tests have been used in proof of the unity of author-
ship has had the unfortunate result of casting suspicion on
the value of all the tests. In order to present as clearly as
possible the arguments for common authorship that may
still be considered valid in the light of our increased knowl-
edge concerning all the alliterative poems, I shall sum up
the most important evidence adduced by the earlier stu-
dents of this group of poems, adding other evidence of
common authorship which I believe should not be disre-
garded. This is all the more necessary since the next sec-
tion, in which the relation of the poet to the rest of the
alliterative group is discussed, will make plain the fallibility
of some of the tests employed by Trautmann.
1. Vocabulary.
Trautmann ( Uber Verfasser, pp. 26-8) gave a list of 115
words common to Gawain and the other poems in the manu-
script, and not found in William of Palerne or the Alexander
fragments A and B. Kullnick 1 found that 30 words (15%)
in Gawain occurred nowhere but in the other poems of this
same manuscript. An examination of NED. reduces his
list to about 20, although he has omitted a few others, for
example, tevel(yng), owing to the inexactness of the
glossaries. As may be seen from the large number of words
common to the Gawain-group and The Wars of Alexander
{Alex. C.), 2 the test of vocabulary, though not altogether
negligible, really indicates only a common dialect or
proximity of dialectal provenience.
2. Alliteration.
Trautmann attached too much importance to his tests by
1 Studien uber den Wortschatz in Sir Gawayne and the Grene
Knygt (Berlin, 1902), p. 53.
* Cf. p. xxiv.
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XIV
Introduction
means of alliteration, 1 since his investigations covered too
small a number of lines, and many characteristics which he
considered distinctive are found in other alliterative poems.
The most important peculiarity is the alliteration of exp oun
with words beginning with sp 2 * In addition, the consistent
agreement of the four poems in the manner of using allitera-
tion is noteworthy, as Schumacher’s study of all the poems
of the alliterative school shows. One may note particularly
the practice of alliterating unstressed syllables, 8 and the
freedom from the tendency of the more pedantic poets to
rhyme only like vowels. 4
3. Phraseology and Similar Passages.
Trautmann’s list of similar phrases in Gawain and the
other poems of the group is very meagre, and also mislead-
ing, since it includes a considerable number of phrases
which are mere alliterative commonplaces, such as ‘busk
to bed/ ‘draw adre3,’ ‘kever comfort.’ But there are
other parallels between Purity and Gawain, unnoticed by
Trautmann; these are so many in number, and often
so peculiar in kind, that they seem to me to constitute
indubitable proof of common authorship. We do not
find, to be sure, phrases of any length occurring in exactly
the same form in the two poems, for it is characteristic of
the poet never to repeat himself exactly, even within the
limits of a single poem. Unlike most of his fellow-crafts-
men in alliterative poetry — for example, the author of The
Destruction of Troy — he is careful to change slightly any
peculiar alliterative combination which he repeats. The
1 See Miss Thomas’ criticism, Sir Gawayne, pp. 6-7.
* Fischer, Die Stabende Langzeile in den Werken des Gawain-
dichters (Bonn, 1901), pp. 41-2; Schumacher, Studien iiber den
Stabreim in der Mittelenglischen Alliterationsdichtung (Bonn, 1914),
pp. 1 20-1.
a Schumacher, pp. 26-8.
4 Schumacher, p. 56.
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II. The Works of the Author of Purity
xv
parallel passages vary in value as evidence: some are
alliterative combinations which might have occurred to dif-
ferent poets, although I have tried to exclude all those
which were actually used by other alliterative poets ; some
^re valuable as indicative of a tendency to use the same
unusual word, expression, or figure of speech, under similar
circumstances; and some are inexplicable except as remi-
niscences of phraseology previously used (for examples of
these last, see the section on Date, pp. xxxiii-vi). It is
unnecessary to repeat here the many striking parallel pas-
sages that are given in the notes. 1 But it should be remem-
bered that they include not only unusual alliterative
combinations, such as wonde wope (Pur. 855; Gaw. 488),
troched toures (Pur. 1383; Gaw. 795 ), and taken in (pe)
teche (Pur. 943 ; Gaw. 2488), but also such a phrase as ( al )
pat herez lyf (Pur. 333; Gaw. 1229), which is found no-
where else in the alliterative poetry, and rarely elsewhere.
I add the following parallels unrecorded in the notes :
Purity
1 15 >e derrest at }>e hy3e dese
(cf. 1399).
97 laytez 3et ferre (end of
line) .
544 In devoydynge }>e vylanye.
749 And he hit gayn J>ynkez.
854 And bowez forth fro J?e
bench.
1089 And 3if clanly he >enne
com, ful cortays >er-
after,
Gawain
445 J>e derrest on \>e dece (cf.
75 ).
41 1 layt no fyrre (end of
line) .
634 voyded of vche vylany.
1241 gayn hit me >ynkke3.
344 Bid me bo3e fro pis
benche.
653 His clannes & his cor-
taysye.
J The following parallels are cited in the notes: Pur. 10, Gaw.
251; Pur. 43, Gaw. 2343; Pur. 114, Gaw. 73; Pur. 333, Gaw. 1229;
Pur. 391, Gaw. 1152; Pur. 484, Gaw. 929; Pur. 521, Gaw. 1106,
1387; Pur. 599, Gaw. 1463; Pur. 706, Gaw. 1659; Pur. 735, Gaw.
1811; Pur. 805, Gaw. 1836; Pur. 832, Gaw. 1848; Pur. 855, Gaw.
488; Pur. 943, Gaw. 2488; Pur. 1376, Gaw. 58; Pur. 1383, Gaw. 795;
Pur. 1408, Gaw. 802; Pur. 1459, Gaw. 790.
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xvi
Introduction
Purity
1118 pa3 hym not derrest be
demed to dele for penies.
1244 pe welgest fourre.
1420 So faste pay we3ed to hym
wyne. Cf. 1508, and
1716 wale wyne.
Gawain
78-9 pe best gemmes, pat
my3t be preued of prys
wyth penyes to bye.
2101 pe best fowre.
1403 Wy3e3 pe wale wyn we3ed
to hem oft.
The following phrases pointed out by Trautmann (pp. 28-9)
should be added :
1065 If pou wyl dele drwrye.
273 pose wern men mepelez.
Pat. 489. lansed (Gollancz,
laused) a speche.
2449 for ho hat3 dalt dr wry.
2106 For he is a mon methles.
2124 & lance neuer tale.
4. Style.
The test by means of stylistic mannerisms is more
difficult to apply to the Gawain-poet, for the simple reason
that he is too good an artist to clutter his lines with
formal or meaningless tags. The frequent repetition of
the same or similar second half-lines is so marked a char-
acteristic of William of Palerne, Morte Arthur, and The
Destruction of Troy that a comparison of the favorite
formal phrases used in each makes diversity of authorship
of such poems absolutely certain. The employment and
the repetition of such conventional tags is so frequent
in most poets of the alliterative school, that their very
absence in the poems of the Gawain-group might be
considered an indication of common authorship.
One stylistic trick of the Gawain-poet, however, is so
peculiar that Knigge 1 rightly called attention to it as dis-
1 Die Sprache , p. 6. Knigge uses it as an argument for consider-
ing Erkenwald one of the group, but his only example is the phrase
‘pe prince pat paradis weldes' (195), and this may possibly have
been taken over from the Gawain-poet by the author of Erkenwald ,
just as it was by the author of Death and Life (see p. xxvi, and
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II. The Works of the Author of Purity xvii
tinctive. It is the poet’s habit of paraphrasing ‘God’ or
‘Lord’ by means of a relative clause, either with the pro-
noun ‘he that . . .’ or with some such common word for
‘man’ as wyg, tolke, as in Pur . 5, ‘]>e Wy3 J)at wro3t alle
t>inges.’ In the entire body of alliterative poetry no such
expressions can be found outside the Gawain-poet, with
the exception of two phrases which are plainly imitated
from him. 1 The examples given below are divided into
groups, in order to bring out the striking similarities of
phraseology 2 ; those noted by Trautmann are indicated by
(T.) and those given by Knigge by (K.) :
(a) Pur. 5 }>e Wy3 >at wrc>3t alle }>inges. (K.)
280 }>e Wy3 bat al wrost.
Pat. hi bat Wy3 >at al >e world planted. (K.)
206 bat Wy3e I worchyp, iwysse, bat wro3t alle J>ynges.
Gaw. 2441-2 }>e \Vy3e hit yow 3elde,
bat vp-halde3 }>e heuen . . .
(b) Pur. 552 }>e Soverayn bat syttez so hy3e. (T., K.)
Pat. 261 }>at Syre bat syttes so hi3e. (K.) Cf. Pat. 93.
Gaw. 256 he bat on hy3e syttes. (T., K.)
2441-2 be Wy3e ... bat vp-halde3 be heuen, & on
hy3 sitte3.
196 n., where the slight variation of this phrase in Winner and
Waster is also cited).
1 Cf. p. xvi, n. 1 for the one phrase, and p. xxvi {Alex. C. 4518) for
the other.
2 Naturally the examples are more numerous in the Biblical para-
phrases than in Gawain. References to God are, of course, common
in all the alliterative romances, but though they employ commonly
such simple expressions as ‘bi him bat vs wrou3t,’ Wm. of Palerne
3133; ‘he bat vs bou3t/ ibid. 5004; ‘Crist bat al weldes/ ibid. 3753,
they nowhere employ such elaborate periphrases as these that are
characteristic of the Gawain-poet. The closest parallels that I have
been able to find (with the exception of those in Alex. C., for which
see p. 28) are such examples as ‘his lufe, that heghe in heuen
sittez/ Morte Arthur 1261, which slightly resembles the examples
in (b), and a few other periphrases in Morte Arthur ( 11 . 1303, 2196,
2319), not important enough to quote here.
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xviii
Introduction
(c) Pur. 212 J>at Lorde ]>at J>e lyft made. (T.)
1493 J>e Lorde J>at ]?e lyfte 3emes. Cf. Lorde of J>e
lyfte, 435, 1356, 1443 . (T.)
Gaw. 1256 J>at ilk Lorde J>at J>e lyfte halde3.
(d) Pur. 510-1 to hym even J>at al spedez and spyllez.
Gaw. 1292 he ]?at spede3 vche spech.
(e) Pur. 31 he J>at flemes uch fyl]?e fer fro his hert.
“ 1340 hym ]?at in heven wonies. Cf. 1807.
“ 1528 hym J>at alle goudes gives. Cf. 1598, 1627.
Pat. 1 76 he >at rules >e rak.
Gaw. 2410 & he 3elde hit 30W 3are, J>at 3arkkes al menskes. 1
Under the heading of style may be added what is really
a syntactical peculiarity hitherto unnoticed, and not found,
I believe, outside the works of the Gawain-poet in any of
the alliterative poems except the late Death and Life , whose
author is in this as in other respects plainly imitating the
poet of Purity. This is the use of an absolute construction
attached to the sentence by means of and, somewhat as in
modern Irish :
Pur. 1219 And he J>e faynest freke >at he his fo hade. Cf. 1573.
Gaw. 53 & ho J>e comlokest kyng >at >e court haldes.
Gaw. 1826 & ho sore }>at he forsoke.
Finally, under this head may be included the argument
brought forward by Miss Thomas , 2 based on the poet’s
mannerism of grouping similes in clusters of two or more.
The validity of this test seems to me indisputable. In The
1 For the sake of completeness I add a list of lines from Pat.
and Pur. only, containing more similar expressions: Pur. 17, 195,
498, 644, 748; Pat. 129, 225. Cf. also such a phrase as ‘welder of
wyt’ (Pat. 129) with ‘worcher of >is worlde’ (Pur. 1501), and the
peculiar expression ‘so gaynlych a God’ (Pur. 728), which recurs
in ‘gaynlych God’ (Pat. 83).
2 Sir Gawayne, p. 12. Another point made by Miss Thomas (pp.
10-1) may be mentioned here, although it does not apply par-
ticularly to Purity: the fact that in Patience , The Pearl , and
Gawain, is employed the device of closing the poem with approxi-
mately the same words with which it is begun.
Digitized by L^ooQle
Ill . Alliterative School and Poet of Purity xix
Pearl 15 out of 35 comparisons occur in groups; in Purity
14 out of 24; in Patience 3 out of 7 ; in Gawain 6 out of 19.
Resemblances so minute and peculiarities so distinctive
as these cannot be explained in any other way than by
assuming that the author of Purity, Patience, and The Pearl
also wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, different in
kind though it be. And it must be remembered that there
is no good reason why this particular homilist should not
have been at the same time a great writer of romance. 1
The preacher could not altogether hide himself in the
romancer. Ten Brink says of Gawain , 2 ‘all this art is in
the service of moral ideas. It may be objected that our
poet obtrudes the Hcec fabula docet altogether too plainly/
And conversely, the brilliance of coloring, the vivid descrip-
tions of nature, and the picturesque and dramatic presen-
tation of life, appear not only in the romance, but in the
homilies. Jonah’s adventurous voyage and the splendid
scene of Belshazzar’s banquet are related, to be sure, for
the purpose of commending virtue, but seldom has a homilist
enforced his moral by such excellent story-telling.
III. THE ALLITERATIVE SCHOOL AND THE
POET OF PURITY
The author of Purity is only one of many poets who are
found writing alliterative verse in the latter half of the
fourteenth century. The earliest poems of this new allit-
erative school, 8 the two shorter Alexander fragments,
Joseph of Arimathie, and William of Palerne, appear in the
1 Some of the ideas common to Gawain and Purity will be touched
on in the sections of the Introduction entitled Date and Literary
Art. Cf. also Bateson, Patience, pp. xxii-iii.
* Early Engl. Lit . 1. 347.
*On Middle English works in long alliterative lines, see Wells*
Manual, pp. 240-1, and passim .
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XX
Introduction
West Midland about the year 1350, three hundred years
after the last of the Old English alliterative poems. In
spite of this blank of three centuries after the Norman Con-
quest, the alliterative poetry of the Middle English period
can hardly be considered a revival of an obsolete form of
verse, a deliberate attempt to imitate directly the alliterative
line of Old English poetry. 1 For though the principles of
the alliterative verse of the later school are still funda-
mentally the same as in Old English poetry, the differences
in the employment of the various types of line and in the
general structure 2 are too great to be explicable in any
other way than by the assumption of the continued use of
the long alliterative line, and its gradual transformation in
that period from which no examples have come down to us.
Alliteration itself, to be sure, was common in this period,
not only in other forms of verse, such as that of Layamon
and the lyrics of MS. Harley 2253 (c. 1310), but also in
religious prose. Some slight evidence that the long allit-
erative line was employed, at least in popular verse, exists
in two fragmentary prophecies, the text of which is very
corrupt; these form the only connecting links in the long
interregnum in the tradition of alliterative verse. 3
The relations of the Middle English alliterative poems to
one another, a matter obscure enough in itself, has been
unnecessarily complicated and confused by the reckless
assignment to a single poet of all those poems which have
a number of alliterative phrases in common. Such an easy
method, partly excusable in the early days when many of
the alliterative poems had not been edited or investigated,
is still persisted in by a few writers whose patriotism
1 Cf. p. xlii.
2 The best discussion of the development of the Middle English
alliterative line from the Old English is Deutschbein’s Zur Entwick-
lung des Englischen Alliterationsverses, Halle, 1902.
8 Luick, in Paul's Grundriss der Germanischen Philologie , 2d ed.,
2. 2. 160.
Digitized by L^OOQle
Ill . Alliterative School and Poet of Purity xxi
transcends their appreciation of facts. Similarities in the
alliterative poems may be due (i) to the common use of a
traditional stock of alliterative phrases, (2) to the imitation
of one alliterative poet by another, a possibility that must
be given particular attention, because the sudden renewal
of interest in a form of verse too much neglected indicates
the likelihood of a kind of literary contagion, and the rise
of a ‘school’ of poets, and (3) to common authorship. The
frequent disagreement of scholars and other writers about
the authorship of many of the most important alliterative
poems of the period gives rise to the mistaken impression
that the alliterative poetry is a vast chaos of works so
similar in style and conception that nothing definite can
ever be decided about the composition or relations of any
of them. This is not true. The gay but rather thin pretti-
ness of William of Palerne is utterly different from the
wealth of details chronicled in the smooth and even verse
of Morte Arthur, and the style of neither of these poems
is in any way comparable to the vigorous freshness of the
lines of the Gawain-poet. And he, in turn, is as easily
distinguished from the author (or must we say authors?)
of Piers Plowman as Chaucer from Gower. But if there
are striking differences in the style of the poets of the allit-
erative school, there are also striking resemblances in details
which make it possible to distinguish within the group as a
whole certain smaller groups in which the poems stand in
more or less close relationship. It is important, then, to
determine what little we can concerning the relations of the
Gawain-poet to the other Middle English poets who used
the same form of verse.
In the first place, there is no indication that the author
of Purity was familiar with any of the three earliest allit-
erative poems in Middle English, the Alexander fragments
A and B, William of Palerne, and Joseph of Arimathie.
Beyond a few common alliterative phrases, there is nothing
to show any connection between them and the works of the
Digitized by L^ooQle
xxii
Introduction
Gawain-poet. With certain of the later poems Purity has
more in common; some of the more striking resemblances
to Morte Arthur , 1 The Destruction of Troy , 2 and The Sege
of Jerusalem , 3 are mentioned in the notes. But, in general,
these resemblances, too marked to be traceable to similar
dialects or common poetic tradition, are insufficient actually
to prove direct borrowing on either side, though one may
strongly suspect it. That the relationship, whether direct
or indirect, between these poems and Purity is closer than
that between such a poem as William of Palerne and Purity
is certain, but to define it further is difficult until the dates
of all these poems shall have been more definitely deter-
mined. That all of them, Gawain included, were written by
different authors has now been established beyond doubt . 4
Yet it is plain from the numerous parallels between Morte
Arthur and The Destruction of Troy that there is some
intimate connection between them, as is sufficiently evident
from a comparison of the similar passages pointed out in
Panton and Donaldson’s edition of the latter poem . 5 Still
1 See notes on 11 . 838, 1411, 1452, 1689, and cf. Pur . 269-72 and
Morte Arthur 21 11.
2 See notes on 11 . 838, 1193, 1426, 1777, and cf. Pur. 1456, Destr.
Troy 3169; Pur. 239, Destr. Troy 634, 11745.
8 See notes on 11 . 473, 867, 1456, and cf. Pur. 1413, Sege 849, 1174;
and esp. Pur. 1423, Sege 854. It seems to ipe very likely that the
author of the Sege was acquainted both with Morte Arthur and
with the Gawain-poet.
4 Trautmann, Angl. 1. 120 ff. ; Reicke, Untersuchungen fiber den
Stil der Mittelenglischen Alliterierenden Gedichte Morte Arthur,
The Destruction of Troy, The Wars of Alexander, The Siege of
Jerusalem, Sir Gawayn and the Green Knight (Konigsberg, 1906) ;
and MacCracken's summary of the Huchown controversy, Publ.
Mod. Lang. Ass. 25. 507-34.
5 EETS. 39 and 56; cf. Neilson, Huchown, pp. 53-8. The resem-
blances between the two poems misled the editors (Preface, pp.
xvii ff.) into believing that they were both by one poet. Brandes
{Engl. Stud . 8. 410) also defended this view, in spite of Traut-
mann’s refutation (Angl. 1. 126-7), but* this possibility was disposed
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HI. Alliterative School and Poet of Purity xxiii
another intersecting group is formed by Morte Arthur , The
Awntyrs of Arthur#, and Huchown’s Pistell of Susan.
Since there are cogent reasons for refusing to attribute the
first two of these poems to Huchown, the similarities should
probably be explained as due to imitation or unconscious
borrowing . 1 With The Awntyrs of Arthur e the circle of
relationship comes round once more to the Gawain-poet,
since it is possible that the author of the Awntyrs was
imitating Gawain in his hunting-scene . 2 Even more certain
is some kind of relationship 8 between the Gawain-poet and
the two poems, perhaps by the same author , 4 The Parlement
of the Three Ages and Winner and Waster, but this is a
matter which needs further investigation.
Of the longer poems of the alliterative school, it is The
Wars of Alexander (Alex. C.), however, which bears the
most marked resemblance in vocabulary and phraseology
to the works of the Gawain-poet. Bradley was the first
to take note of this connection, and suggested that it was
to be explained by identity of authorship . 5 But this expla-
nation was completely refuted by Henneman , 6 who showed
that there were irreconcilable differences in the dialect,
which is demonstrably more Northern in The Wars, since it
of beyond all doubt by Reicke’s dissertation (see above) ; cf. also
MacCracken, pp. 528-9.
1 Cf. Liibke, The Awntyrs of Arthur at the Tarn-W athelan (Ber-
lin, 1883), pp. 30 ff. ; Reicke, p. 6. MacCracken, who argues forcibly
against Huchown’s authorship, nevertheless dismisses altogether
too summarily (p. 528) the resemblances pointed out by Amours
( Scottish Alliterative Poems: Scott. Text . Soc. 27. lx-lxv).
* Amours, pp. 332 ff.
3 Cf. Gollancz’s preface to his separate edition of The Parlement
of the Three Ages (London, 1915), and Neilson, Huchown , pp. 71-3.
4 Gollancz, who edited both poems for the Roxburghe Club, 1897,
believes so; but Bradley (Athen., 1903, 1. 658) thinks The Parle-
ment may be imitative of Winner and Waster.
5 Academy, Jan. 14, 1888.
6 Untersuchungen iiber das Mittelenglische Gedicht ‘ Wars of
Alexander* (Berlin, 1889), pp. 30-6.
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xxiv
Introduction
contains many Northern words not used by the Gawain-
poet; in metrical usage, where the most obvious among
many differences is the practice of running the same allitera-
tion through a number of lines in The Wars ; and finally in
style 1 and general literary merit, not to mention the late
date generally assigned to The Wars of Alexander . The
fact that many very unusual words are common to the
Gawain-poet and The Wars 2 * may well be explained by
assuming that the two poets wrote in neighboring dialects.
The Wars, it should be noted, has many words in common
with Morte Arthur and The Destruction of Troy which
are not used by the author of Gawain , 8 and its dialect is
therefore in all probability geographically intermediate
between that of Morte Arthur and Gawain.
But there are other similarities between The Wars and
the works of the Gawain-poet 4 which cannot, I think, be
explained either by common alliterative tradition or by
dialectal proximity. The most striking of these is the only
one mentioned by Bradley, whose comment I quote: Tn
the “Wars of Alexander,” 1 . 1154, the reading of the
Ashmole MS. is —
J?e pure populande hurle. passis it umbi.
In his note to the passage, the editor says that “Hurle is
shown by the alliteration to be an error, for purle or perle
(as in Dublin MS.).” He has apparently overlooked the
fact that the poem called “Patience” has the same peculiar
phrase, and in the form which he condemns as incorrect.
In 1 . 319 the poet makes the prophet Jonah say
)>e pure poplande hourle playes on my heued.
The law of the alliterative verse does not require us to adopt
the reading of the Dublin MS., as three stave-rimes are a
1 Cf. Reicke, pp. 32-3, 35, and passim.
2 Kullnick, p. 53.
‘Henneman, p. 31.
4 Cf. Neilson, p. 73, for parallels between Gaw. and The Wars.
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II I. Alliterative School and Poet of Purity xxv
sufficient number for a line. There are often four, but this
is not at all imperative. The line immediately preceding
that quoted from the “Alexander” contains a non-allit-
erating substantive as the last word of the first hemistich:
pe Wawis of pe Wild see. apon the wallis betis.
I therefore believe that hurle is the true reading, and that
the perle of the Dublin MS. is a corruption due to the wish
to complete the alliteration/
The fact that such a singular and otherwise unexampled
phrase occurs in these two poems, since it cannot be
explained, as Bradley assumed, by common authorship,
must be due to borrowing from one by the other. I mention
here, besides the passages quoted in the notes , 1 some of
which are very remarkable, a few other important simi-
larities between Purity and The Wars of Alexander, which
corroborate the assumption of imitation :
Pur . 952 punder-prast. Alex. 554 thonere thrastis.
(These are the only examples of this poetic expression cited by
NED . s. v. threst .)
Pur . 1046 As any dom my3t
device of dayntyez oute.
Pur . 1135 Sulp no more penne
in synne py saule per-
after (cf. 15, 550).
Pur . 1322 As conqueror of
uche a cost.
Pur. 1455 For to compas and
kest.
Pur. 1626 Of sapyence pi sawle
ful.
Alex. 5297 It ware a daynte to
deme for any duke oute.
Alex. 4292 pat is to say, all pe
syn at solp may pe saule.*
Alex. 1843 pe conquirour of
ilka cost. 3
Alex. 415 How he my3t com-
pas & kast.
Alex. 3725 3 oure saule sa ful
of sapient.
1 See notes on 11 . 1, 473, 665, 1209, 1402. Alex. 1393 must certainly
be explained as a borrowing from Pur . 665.
* The resemblance here is the more striking if we compare the
way in which the author of Alex. B. (335-6) paraphrased this
same passage : ‘alle manir pingus pat mihte vs soile wip sinne.*
* None of the alliterative combinations here given are to be found
in Fuhrmann’s study, nor have I included any that I could find
elsewhere.
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xxvi
Introduction
Finally, Alex. 4518, ‘J)at hathill at on hi3e sittis/ is
almost certainly imitated from the Gawain-poet, with whom,
as we have seen, such periphrases for God are characteristic
and distinctive. This is a plain indication that the author
of The Wars is the borrower, a relationship that the late
date 1 of The Wars , which there is no good reason for
doubting, would in any case require.
The most obvious case of imitation of the Gawain-poet
is that in Death and Life . Unmistakable evidences of the
influence of Piers Plowman on Death and Life, especially
in the treatment of the allegory, were long ago pointed out
by Skeat. 2 That the poet of Death and Life was also
familiar with Purity, and indebted to its author for a num-
ber of phrases, may be seen from the lines cited in the
notes. 3 In addition to these proofs of borrowing from the
Gawain-poet, the dependence of Death and Life is patent
from the use of the peculiar absolute construction which was
characteristic of the former. 4 This appears in the two lines :
86 & shee the most gracyous groome that on the ground longed
157 & shee the ffoulest ffreake that formed was euer.
This construction occurs nowhere, I believe, in the whole
range of alliterative verse, except in these two poets.
It may be stated with certainty, then, that the works of
the poet of Purity, though preserved to us in only one
manuscript, were known and admired by his fellow-crafts-
men in the composition of alliterative verse. And there is
a satisfaction in realizing that the authors of Death and
1 Wells (p. 103) says ‘of date 14001450 or about 1450/
2 In the introduction to Death and Life in Hales and Furnivall,
Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript 3. 49-55. Cf. Hanford and
Steadman, Death and Life ( North Carolina Studies in Philology
15. 246-8).
3 See notes on 11 . 195, 223, 242, 521, 1267. Pat. 32 is reflected in
Death and Life 107: ‘Dame Mirth, & Dame Meekenes & Dame
Mercy the hynd.’
4 Cf. p. xvii.
Digitized by ^ooQle
IV. Date
xxvii
Life and the pretentious Wars of Alexander, and probably
others, 1 recognized in this poet, as we do to-day, a skilled
artist in a difficult form of verse, and a master of poetic
expression.
IV, DATE
The works of the author of Purity are vaguely assigned
to the last half, generally the last forty years, of the four-
teenth century. Morris , final judgment placed the poems
about 1360 2 ; Trautmann thought that 1370 or 1380 would
be more probable 3 ; Ten Brink believed that the poet wrote
in the sixties or seventies. 4 But apart from the evidences
of the manuscript (c. 1400) 5 and the language, 6 little posi-
tive evidence has been adduced for the more precise dating
of the poems within the period 1360-1400. The attempts to
date Gawain by means of a possible connection with the
Order of the Garter 7 are worthless, as this connection now
1 For the probable influence of the Gawain-poet on Piers Plowman ,
see pp. xxix ff. Cf. Gollancz ( Camb . Hist. 1. 373) : ‘So far as we
can judge from these extant poems, the most gifted poet of the
school was the author of Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knight: he
may well have been regarded as the master, and his influence on
more northern poets, and on alliterative poetry generally, may
explain in part, but not wholly, the parallel passages which link
his work with that of other poets of the school, who used the same
formulae, the same phrases and, at times, repeated whole lines,
much in the same way as poets of the Chaucerian school spoke the
language of their master.’
* Specimens of Early English (1867), p. 207.
4 Uber V erf., p. 32.
4 Early Engl. Lit. 1. 336.
8 Cf . p. vi.
®Fick, Zum Mittelenglischen Gedicht von der Perle (Kiel,
1885), p. 3.
7 Gollancz (ed. Pearl, p. xlii) suggests 1360, certainly later than
1345, the probable date of foundation of the Order; cf. Schofield,
English Literature from the Norman Conquest to Chaucer (190 6),
pp. 215, 217. Isaac Jackson ( Angl . 37. 395-6) dates precisely 1362,
when Lionel became Duke of Clarence.
Digitized by L^ooQle
xxviii
Introduction
appears extremely improbable. 1 If The Pearl, as seems
reasonably certain, 2 was influenced by one of Boccaccio’s
eclogues of about 1360, The Pearl must have been written
at least several years after that date. The indubitable
dependence of Purity on the French version of Mandeville’s
Travels, probably written in 1355 or 1356, although the
oldest (French) manuscript is dated 1371, led C. F. Brown 3
to say that ‘it is scarcely possible that the Mandeville was
known in England before this latter date.’ But as there
is no reason why an earlier manuscript than the oldest one
extant might not have strayed over to England, the poet’s
borrowing from Mandeville demonstrates only that Purity
was written after 1355-6.
Various attempts have been made to arrive at a more
definite date for Purity and Patience by establishing some
relationship between them and Piers Plowman . Traut-
mann’s suggestion 4 that certain passages in the homiletic
poems were written under the influence of Piers Plowman
was elaborated by Miss Thomas. 5 Her arguments are such
as this : ‘that the first six portions of Bible history treated
in Cleanness ( Purity ) . . . are all found as episodes in
Piers Plowman .’ C. F. Brown, in discussing the incon-
clusiveness of Miss Thomas’ evidence, points out 6 that
‘when one considers that more than a score of Biblical
episodes might be reckoned up in the pages of Piers Plow -
man, it does not seem very significant that there should be
1 Cf. Hulbert, Mod. Phil. 13. 710 ff.
8 Schofield, Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 203 ff.
8 Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 153.
4 Uber V erf., p. 32.
6 Sir Gawayne, pp. 27-32. The passages compared are: Piers B.
13- 384, Pat. 9; Piers B. 10. 342, 11. 310, 14. 191-2, 214-7, 259, 270-1,
274, Pat. 1-8, 35-53, 525-31; Piers B. 16. 97-126, Pur. 1085-1105;
Piers B. 15. 455-7, Pur. 55 ff*; Piers B. 1. 109-25, Pur. 205-24;
Piers B. 9. 129, Pur. 285 ; Piers B. 14. 39-44, Pur. 530-7.
8 Bubl. Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 123, n. 2. In this note Brown criticizes
other points in Miss Thomas’ argument.
Digitized by C^ooQle
IV. Date
xxix
several episodes common to both poems.’ The few verbal
similarities which Miss Thomas was able to find are utterly
worthless as indications either of borrowing or of remi-
niscence. Such an expression as wylde worme(z) (Piers
Plow. B. 14. 41, Pur. 533) occurs also in Awntyrs of
Arthure (Douce MS. 216), and in any case might as well
be borrowed by the author of Piers Plowman as by the
author of Purity. The evidence for dating Purity after
1377, the date of the B-version of Piers Plowman, is
therefore entirely insufficient.
Recently, in his edition of Patience, Bateson, though he
brought forward no new evidence, was inclined to accept
the theory of some relationship between Piers Plowman and
the Gawain-poet, but he disagreed with Miss Thomas in
assuming that it was Purity and Patience that influenced the
B-author of Piers Plowman (13 77). 1 2 The only important
evidence in these discussions of the possible relationship
between the Gawain-poet and the author (s) of Piers Plow-
man is the connection between the virtues of Poverty and
Patience which both poets emphasize. It is not unlikely
that the persistent recurrence of this idea in the B-version
of Piers may be due to the importance attached to it in
Patience ? If this influence be admitted, Patience must be
dated before 1377.
A verbal similarity more important than any hitherto
1 Pp. xxiv-viii. Bateson's acceptance of Manly’s theories regard-
ing the separate authorship of Piers Plowman led him, in the
appendix to his first edition of Patience, to propound some very
bold and highly complicated arguments for the more accurate dating
of the poems. In his second edition he has wisely abandoned these
theories, and with his modified views of the relationship between
the Gawain-poet and Piers Plowman I thoroughly agree.
2 Cf. Pat. 35 ff. Note that the B-version says (10. 340-2) : ‘And
patriarkes and prophetes and poetes bothe . . . preyseden pouerte
with pacience.’ Bateson (pp. xxvii-viii) refers to the association
of the two virtues by Augustine and the Franciscans.
Digitized by
Google
XXX
Introduction
pointed but is the line which occurs in the famous episode
of the belling of the cat in Piers Plowman :
Pur . 1638 And >e by3© of bry3t golde abowte >yn nekke.
Piers Plow . C. 1. 178 Bere by3es of bry3t gold al aboute hure
neckes,
where the B-version (Prolog. 161) has:
Beren bi3es ful bri3te abouten here nekkes.
This remarkable resemblance is the more noteworthy since
the line in Purity is a literal translation of the Vulgate
torquem auream circa collum tuum (Dan. 5. 16). It might
be deduced from this that the C-version must have revised
the B-version, and made it conform more exactly to the
line in Purity, which must be the original, since the poet
is here simply translating his source. But the present
uncertainty about the manuscripts of Piers Plowman pre-
vents the acceptance of the B-text at its face value.
Whatever the exact nature of the relationship of the B and
C versions may be, it seems plain that Piers Plowman is
here imitating Purity.
More definite conclusions may be reached concerning the
relative chronology of the four works of the Gawain-poet,
although even on this point there has been flat disagreement
among scholars. According to Ten Brink, the order of
the poems was Gawain, Pearl, Purity, Patience . 1 But this
arrangement was closely associated with, and is really
dependent upon, the purely fictitious life of the poet that
Ten Brink attempted to reconstruct. It is unnecessary, at
this date, to show that Patience offers no ground for sup-
posing its author ‘an aging poet who has felt the pains
of poverty and privation.* 2 We know nothing of the
1 Early Engl. Lit. 1. 337 ff.
* Ibid. 1. 351. Gollancz still clings in his hypothetical biography
of the poet to Ten Brink's order ( Camb . Hist . 1. 369-70; Encycl.
Brit., nth ed., under Pearl; Preface to ed. of Patience ); but he
states it cautiously and only as a probability. For criticism of
Digitized by ^ooQie
IV. Date
XXXI
external life of the poet, though we may glean from his
works some knowledge of his opinions and position . 1 And
hardly any one would now agree with Ten Brink’s opinion
that Purity and Patience are the most mature products
of the poet’s art, and the latter his masterpiece . 2 Miss
Thomas followed Ten Brink in considering Purity and
Patience the poet’s last works, but her discussion 8 of the
chronology of the poems is almost wholly taken up with
her attempt to prove that The Pearl came before Gawain,
and not after; as Ten Brink had maintained. Her reasons
for considering The Pearl the earliest of the four poems
were vague and general : its isolation from the other three
in form and diction, and the much greater number of
comparisons . 4 More definite reasons were advanced for
a close connection between Purity and Gawain. Not only
similarities in phraseology, but also the enforcement of
the same moral in both poems, the extolling of the virtues
of loyalty ( trawpe ) and chastity, seemed to Miss Thomas ,
sufficient ground for refusing to separate these two poems
by The Pearl. She therefore adopted the order The Pearl ,
Gawain, Purity, Patience . 5
Gollancz’s attempt to reconstruct a biography, Schofield’s articles
should be consulted. Bateson’s hypothetical sketch of the poet s
life (pp». 55-63, 1st ed., abandoned in 2d ed.), and Osgood’s less
fanciful deductions (pp. Iff.), show that an entirely different
chronology offers no difficulties for the imaginary reconstruction
of the poet’s biography.
1 See especially G F. Brown, The Author of the Pearl : Publ.
Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 115 - 48 .
2 Early Engl. Lit. 1 . 350 , 35 *-
2 Sir Gawayne, pp. 12-25.
‘Ibid., pp. 22-5.
8 Miss Thomas found no evidence in Gawain and Purity them-
selves for the priority of Gawain, except the fact that the author
would have been likely to introduce the knightly descriptions into
the Biblical setting of Purity, had he already employed them in
the romance, and again the fact that the lines in Gawain have
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Introduction
An entirely different order, Purity and Patience, Pearl ,
Gawain, was proposed by Osgood on the basis of the dif-
ference in the art and technique of the poems . 1 According
to Osgood, the episodes in the homilies ‘are more loosely
articulated, both logically and in composition, and the moral
element is clearly distinct from the sensuous/ Bateson
agreed with Osgood in considering the homilies earlier,
and attempted to fix more precisely their chronology and
that of Gawain . He pointed out that the close relationship
between Purity and Gawain on the one hand, and
Purity and Patience 2 on the other, made it necessary
to assume either the order, Gawain, Purity, Patience, or
Patience, Purity, Gawain, and he thought the former impos-
sible because of the dependence of Purity on Patience . 8
The organic connection between Purity and Patience is
so obvious that no one has ever proposed separating them.
The many parallels between Purity and Gawain pointed out
above , 4 and the paucity of parallels between Patience and
Gawain, are sufficient, I believe, to justify Bateson’s con-
tention that Purity must come between Patience and Gawain,
whether the order is Gawain, Purity, Patience, or Patience,
Purity, Gawain . 5 But are there any more definite indica-
more of the freshness of an original. Neither of these points
carries any weight, since the transference of the customs of chivalry
to ancient settings is usual in poems of the kind, and the ‘fresh-
ness* of the lines in Gawain may be due to the gradual perfecting
of the poet’s art. Cf. Bateson’s criticism, Patience, p. xxii, n. 2.
1 Pearl, pp. xlix ff . Schofield and Kittredge also believe that
Purity and Patience are the poet’s earliest works; see Schofield,
Publ . Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 165, and n. 2.
* Patience, p. xiii.
*1 agree with Bateson’s chronology, although the chief argument
he advances (p. xxii) for the order Purity, Patience, is valueless
unless one accepts the dependence of Patience on Tertullian’s poem,
which is more than doubtful ; cf. p. xl.
4 Pp. xv f . Cf. Bateson, p. xxi.
8 The Pearl may be left out of consideration for the moment,
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tions, other than these, and perhaps less liable to contradic-
tion than the argument drawn from the poet’s development
as an artist, 1 that any one of the three poems precedes
another? When the same or similar phrases and ideas are
used in more than one poem, it will be well to examine them
carefully for any evidence concerning which is the more
likely to have been suggested by the other. And although
this evidence is necessarily small in quantity, and involves
the consideration of fine points in the handling of words
and phrases, it is more tangible than general comparisons
of artistic merit.
Take first some phrases which are common to Gawain
and Purity. In Purity it is said of the angels who show
some unwillingness to accept Lot’s offer of hospitality
( 805 - 7 ) :
pay nay pat pay nolde ne3 no howsez,
Bot stylly per in pe strete as pay stadde wern,
pay wolde lenge pe long na3t and logge peroute.*
Now the same phrase that occurs in this first line is found
again in Gawain 1836, in an entirely different context.
When Bernlak’s wife beseeches the hero to accept a present
of her gold ring or girdle, the poet says:
& he nayfed] pat he nolde neghe in no wyse
Nauther gold ne garysoun,
that is, he refused to accept either. NED. was able to find
no other instance of the verb nigh in this meaning ‘take
since its difference in form prevents the same kind of comparison
with the other poems.
1 1 consider this argument of the artistic superiority of Gawain
a strong one for its being the last of the poems. Both the excellence
6f narrative construction and the more skilful and easier handling
of the alliterative line (cf. p. 63) point to Gawain' s being the most
finished product of the poet's art. But it is naturally difficult to
refute a man who declares the exact contrary to be the case.
a This paraphrases the last clause of Gen. 19. 2.
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Introduction
or accept.’ How did the poet happen to use it in this
strange sense? There can hardly be any other satisfactory
explanation than that the convenient alliterative phrase
‘nay J>at he nolde neghe’ recurred to him because he had
already used it in expressing an act of refusal in another
poem, in a case where the persons really refused to approach
something. In other words, the unnatural use of the word
in Gawain must follow the natural use of it in its ordinary
meaning of ‘approach’ in Purity. The poet would never
have used the verb in this extraordinary way unless it had
been included in, and psychologically associated with, an
alliterative phrase previously employed. One or two other
phrases, which in Purity directly translate the Latin of the
Vulgate, are used in Gawain in a less natural and more
formal manner. So, for example, Purity 943, ‘Lest 3e
be taken in J>e teche of tyrauntez here’ translates the Vul-
gate ne et tu pariter pereas in scelere civitatis (Gen. 19. 15) ;
but in Gawain 2488, when the word teche, meaning ‘sin,’
is again used in the same phrase, 1 the expression becomes
redundant, as though it were used formally: ‘In tokenyng
he wat3 tane in tech of a faute / 2
Another slightly different example is what seems to me
a reminiscence in Gawain of a figure of speech elaborately
developed in Purity. It is said of Christ, in Purity 1068,
1 It should be remembered that the phrase ‘taken in teche’ is
rare, and probably occurs only in these two instances.
2 So the poet’s translation of ne irascaris by ‘tatz to non ille’
{Pur. 735) he uses again at Gaw. 1811. Again it seems to me that
the very bold construction at Gaw . 1805 ‘to dele yow for drurye,’
with a personal pronoun the object of dele , could never have been
used if the poet had not already used the natural construction ‘dele
drwrye’ {Pur. 1065). So also when the poet says of the castle
that Gawain approaches that its pinnacles were so thick ‘J>at pared
out of papure purely hit semed’ (802), it is easier to suppose that
this strange comparison occurred to him because he had already
described decorations actually ‘pared out of paper’ {Pur. 1408),
than it is to assume the contrary.
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that he ‘ever is polyced als playn as J>e perle selven. , And
again in the long simile (1117-32) in which the pearl, whose
dullness may be brightened by washing it in wine, is com-
pared to the man whose vile sin may be washed away
by penance, the poet says the sinner ‘may polyce hym at
t>e prest by penaunce taken/ In Gawain, when the hero
confesses his one act of disloyalty,, Bernlak absolves him
in the following manner (2391-4) :
pou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of py mysses,
& hatz pe penaunce apert, of pe poynt of myn egge,
I halde pe po lysed of pat ply3t, & pured as clone, 1
As pou hade3 neuer forfeted.
NED. calls special attention to this instance as the only one
in which the verb polish comes to mean ‘cleanse, purify/
Surely the idea of using the word in this sense and in this
passage would never have occurred to the poet if he had
not in Purity spoken of the ‘polishing of the soul by
penance’ in a comparison with the ‘polishing of the
pearl/ Such peculiar use of words and phrases as these
can hardly be explained in any other way than as
reminiscences of Purity.
The same test one might expect to apply with even greater
ease to Patience and Purity. For, since both of these poems
are paraphrases of different parts of the Vulgate, any
poetic phrase translating the Biblical words in one poem,
and appearing in the other without having any basis in the
Biblical text in this second case, would, offer strong pre-
sumption that the poem in which it directly translates the
Biblical text was written first. But unfortunately most of
the more important resemblances in phraseology between
Patience and Purity occur in passages which in both poems
are added by the poet to the Biblical story. Only two
instances are of any importance, and these both appear to
1 Cf. Pur. 1 1 16 : ‘And pure ]>e with penaunce tyl ]>ou a perle worJ>e/
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Introduction
originate in Patience and to be transferred to Purity. When
the storm breaks on Jonah's ship, and the sailors take to
the oars to try to reach dry land, the Vulgate text says et
non valebant , which the poet translates ‘Bot al wat3 nedles
note' (Pat. 220), a phrase which he repeats in Purity in
describing the vain attempt of the multitude to escape the
flood: ‘Bot al watz nedlez her note’ (Pur. 381 ). 1 A better,
and what seems to me a conclusive, instance is the phrase
‘Goddes glam to hym glod' (Pat. 63) ; ‘Godez glam to hem
glod' (Pur. 499). The Vulgate original for Patience is
Et factum est verbum Domini ad Jonam (Jonah 1. 1) ; for
Purity , Locutus est autem Deus ad Noe, dicens (Gen. 8. 15).
It is obvious that the poet has translated the Latin literally
in the phrase in Patience, and has then transferred it to
Purity, where the Latin has merely the usual expression
for ‘he said/ The transference could work only one way.
A comparison of two longer passages in Patience and
Purity, those on the beatitudes, and those quoting Psalm
93. 8-9, makes the priority of Patience the more probable,
as Bateson has already suggested. 2 Even though one
should not assume that the passage on the beatitudes in
Patience (9ff.) is directly modelled on Tertullian’s poem, 8
it seems more likely that the complete translation of them
in Patience was written first, and that the more casual and
less exact reference to one beatitude followed in Purity
(25 ff.). ‘Me mynez on one amonge oJ)er, as MaJ>ew
recordez/ the poet says in Purity, and it is easy to suppose
that the reason the poet deems it unnecessary to mention
1 In this case the poet might, of course, have thought of the
phrase in his description of the flood, and later used it to translate
the Biblical clause, but it seems to me less likely, especially since
note is used in the line in Pur. in a slightly more strained sense:
‘trouble, pains/ instead of merely ‘work.’
2 Patience, p. xxi.
8 Cf. p. xl.
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IV. Date
xxxvii
the others is because he had already done so in Patience }
More important is the difference in the quotation from
Psalm 93. 8-9. 2 In Patience the quotation is not only
prefaced by the explicit statement that King David said it
in a psalm of the Psalter, but the four lines (121-4) are
an almost word for word, at least phrase for phrase, trans-
lation. The paraphrase in Purity (581 ff.)> which is given
as though emanating from the poet himself, without any
suggestion of its being a reflection of the psalm, is much less
exact. The singular ( mon , pyself , pou) is used for the
plural (Vulg. insipientes, Pat . ffolez) ; the sentences trans-
lated in one line in Patience (123, 124) are expanded into
two in Purity (583-4, 585-6) ; and finally, in Purity, the
clauses referring to God’s all-hearing ear and all-seeing eye
are interchanged, whereas Patience preserves the order of
the original. The reader should examine these passages in
their context, and see for himself the improbability of the
poet’s having written the vague impression first and the
exact translation afterward.
The few reasons that have hitherto been suggested for
believing that Purity was the first of the homilies are very
vague, and might as easily be made to prove exactly the
contrary. Patience is, to be sure, more concise than Purity,
but this is inevitable from the fact that it handles only one
incident, whereas Purity is of epic proportions, illustrating
the doom that awaits the impure by means of three long
narratives, which must be connected with one another by
transitional passages of exhortation and remonstrance. It
is easily conceivable that a poet who had written a short
homily on one of the virtues mentioned in the beatitudes
might desire to attempt a homily on another virtue, this
1 Cf. the note on 1 . 51, in which the word masse is probably used
in a strained sense because the phrase is a reminiscence of
Patience 9-10.
2 For the Vulgate text and the two passages paraphrasing it, see
note on 1. 581.
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Introduction
time on a grander scale . 1 If it is said that the style of
Patience is terser, and the lines more firmly knit together,
it may be replied that this impression is derived chiefly
from the sharper division 2 into stanzas of four lines, and
it may well be that the poet in his later and larger
work abandoned the confining limits into which he had
endeavored, somewhat unsuccessfully, to force his lines in
Patience .
Since the judgments of critics on the development of the ,
poet’s art have not been unanimous, I have endeavored to
present some more convincing evidence for the chronol-
ogy of his works. This evidence, added to that already
adduced by others, is sufficient, I believe, to establish with
some degree of certainty the fact that Purity (and with
it Patience) precedes Gawain, and that Patience precedes
Purity . 3 The place of The Pearl in the poet’s works is
more difficult to determine, though artistic considerations 4
would seem to require a position between the Biblical poems
and Gawain. The order of the poet’s works would then be
Patience, Purity, ( The Pearl?), Gawain.
1 This, in fact, seems to me more probable than that he should
have written the more pretentious work first and the shorter poem
afterward.
1 On this division, see pp. xliii-iv. Gollancz recognizes ( Camb.Hist .
I. 361) that the division is less marked in Purity. In general,
there does not seem to me to be much difference in the style or
handling of the line in the two poems. There is the same abruptness
and tendency to anacoluthon in each.
* Osgood, p. xlix, is non-committal about the order of the two
poems, simply grouping them together —' Purity and Patience /
4 See Osgood, p. xlix; and Bateson, pp. xixff. It may be well
to mention that the lines on the pearl in Purity (1068, m6 ff.)
cannot be considered in any way a reminiscence of The Pearl since
the comparison in Purity is of an entirely different kind from the
symbolism in The Pearl
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V . Sources
xxxix
V. SOURCES
The chief source of Purity is the Vulgate text of the
Bible. It would be impossible to enumerate exactly the lines
of the poem which depend on the Latin text, since many
passages, though based originally on the words of the
Vulgate, are elaborated to such an extent that verbal remi-
niscences from the Bible appear only rarely in a rich mosaic
of description. So, for example, the marvelous ornamenta-
tion depicted in Mandeville's tale of Oriental splendor is
superimposed on the Biblical description of the sacred
vessels of the Temple (1439 ff.). But it would be fair to
say that about three-fifths of the lines of Purity have their
ultimate source in the Latin of the Vulgate. In the next
section, which deals with the literary art of the poet, the
manner in which he uses his main source will be discussed
in greater detail.
The few apocryphal incidents which the poet adds to
the Biblical stories he narrates can hardly be traced to any
definite source. The story of Lucifer 1 and the raven's
treachery 2 * were common tradition, and though Lot's wife's
disobedience in serving salt to her guests, 8 and Christ's cut-
ting of the bread, 4 are more unusual, no direct original has
been discovered for either. Holthausen 5 suggested that
the poet may have been familiar with Peter Comestor’s
Historia Scholastic a, but such parallels as he mentions — the
raven's feeding on carrion, and the unnatural sin of the
descendants of Adam — are not remarkable, since these
interpretations were traditional, and the poet might have
found them in many other commentators. The only verbal
1 See note on 1 . 21 1.
1 See note on 1 . 459.
* See note on 1 . 819.
4 See note on 1. 1 103.
5 Archiv 106. 349.
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Introduction
similarity of importance 1 is insufficient to prove direct bor-
rowing, especially when one remembers the frequency with
which mediaeval commentators copied and recopied each
other's phrases. It is noteworthy that the apocryphal mate-
rial used by the poet, where it is not commonplace, consists
of homely anecdote. This same characteristic of homely
simplicity may be seen in his whole attitude toward the
traditional commentaries. In Purity , at least, he seems to
be less fettered than most homilists by theological doctrine
and conventional interpretations, even where these may have
been known to him. He often shows himself remarkably
independent in his simple and direct application of Biblical
stories to spiritual truths , 2 and in such cases he is not at
all bound by the accumulated allegorizings of centuries of
scholastic exegesis.
The possible dependence 3 of Patience on the poem De
Jona et Nineve, once ascribed to Tertullian, has led to the
suggestion that another similar poem, De Sodoma , occurring
along with De Jona in the Latin poet’s works, may have
been known to the Gawain-poet . 4 But as Bateson, who
advanced this hypothesis, omits to mention it in his revised
edition of Patience, this point need not be considered. Even
the dependence of Patience on Tertullian’s De Jona now
appears more than doubtful . 5
1 See note on 1 . 660.
1 Cf. note on 1. 169, and the summary of the poem, pp. xlvi-vii.
* 0 . F. Emerson, Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 10. 242-8; Bateson,
Patience, pp. xli-vi.
4 Bateson, ist ed., Appendix I, pp. 64-7.
“See Liljegren’s criticism {Engl. Stud. 48. 337-41) of Emerson
and Bateson; Gollancz, Preface to Patience, speaks of De Jona
only as ‘an interesting and noteworthy parallel.’ A point not
mentioned by Liljegren may be noted here. Emerson (pp. 246-7).
and Bateson (pp. xlv-vi) attempt to bolster up their arguments by
comparing Tertullian’s treatment of the beatitudes in his homily
De Patientia with the opening of the poem Patience. Tertullian’s
purpose is to show that the virtue of patience is essential to the
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V . Sources
xli
Next to the Vulgate, Mandeville's Travels , in the original
French, was the book most used by the poet in the compo-
sition of Purity. That the description of the Dead Sea
(1022-48) is taken from the Old French version of Jean
de Bourgoyne's (Mandeville's) famous work, was con-
clusively proved by C. F. Brown in 1904. 1 But the influence
of Mandeville’s book is to be found in other passages than
this accoifht of the marvels of the Dead Sea. For the
splendor of Belshazzar's feast is heightened by the intro-
duction of the wondrous artificial birds that flap their wings,
and the gleaming jewels cut from precious gems, that
Mandeville had seen at the court of the Great Chan and
in the land of Prester John. 2
The poet borrows from another Old French work in
Purity, Jean (Clopinel) de Meun’s part of the Roman de la
Rose . 3 This, indeed, is the only source, besides the Bible,
to which he refers in the whole range of his poetry, and here
he nientions both the poet and his work (1057) :
For Clopyngnel in }>e compas of his clene Rose.
attainment of bliss, and he therefore tries to prove that patience
is recommended in at least four of the beatitudes: 'the poor in
spirit’ must be humble, and therefore patient : ‘weepers and mourn-
ers’ have to be patient; ‘the gentle’ cannot be impatient; ‘the
peacemakers’ require patience. On the other hand, the reason why
the Gawain-poet conjoins Poverty and Patience is simply that these
qualities, the first and the last commended in the beatitudes, are
the only two that have the same reward, the Kingdom of Heaven
(Pat. 37-40) — and of this there is no hint in De Patientia. Any
one writing on the theme of Patience would be likely to refer to
the beatitudes, and the very different way in which Tertullian and
the Gawain-poet make use of the beatitudes in this connection
argues against any relation between the two.
1 Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 19. 149-53.
2 See note on 1. 1464; Neilson ( Huchown , p. 115, n. 1) remarked
that ‘Belshazzar’s sacrilegious table jewellery’ is described in terms
borrowed from Mandeville.
* The passage is printed in the note on 1 . 1057.
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xlii
Introduction
The poet turns his quotation from Jean de Meun to rather
unusual use. Chaucer, like many another poet, borrowed
liberally from this author of the Roman de la Rose ; but
Chaucer, in addition, entered into the very spirit of his
incisive satire. The author of Purity plainly understood
the point of the passage he quotes from Reason’s advice
to the Lover to win a lady’s favor by acting in accordance
with her character, and doing whatever pleased her best.
But it is unlikely that he would have turned this advice
into a similar exhortation to win Christ’s favor by con-
forming to the purity of his nature, if he had really
comprehended the subtle cynicism of Jean de Meun’s lines.
Though the poet obtained most of his material from Latin
and Old French, he must surely have had native models,
if not for his ideas, at least for the poetic form which he
employed. It is unlikely that he imitated directly any of
the few earlier poems of the Middle English alliterative
school that have come down to us. And, though he shares
with the other poets of the school a love of glittering
splendor, and a fondness for nature in her wilder moods, 1
yet wherever direct dependence of one on the other seems
probable, it is not the poet of Purity who is the borrower. 2 * *
Nevertheless, it may be safely assumed that many a poet
whose name and works have utterly disappeared, helped to
teach him the difficult art of alliterative versification. It
is often stated that the Old English poets were the masters
of the Gawain-poet in literary art. The sea-pictures of Old
English poetry, especially those of the Old English Exodus,
it has been said, 8 have influenced the description of the
storm in Purity 363-72. But not a jot of evidence has as
yet been presented that either the Gawain-poet or any of
his contemporaries was familiar with Old English poetry,
1 Cf. Osgood, p. xx.
* Cf. pp. xxvi-vii.
*F. W. Moorman, Interpretation of Nature in English Poetry :
Quellen und Forschungen 95. 105 (Strassburg, 1905).
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VI. Literary Art
xliii
or could even read a single line of it. For that reason, the
vivid descriptions of sea and storm which are found in
Patience and Purity must be considered simply the natural
inheritance of a poetic tradition never entirely extinct, a
tradition that from Beowulf to Swinburne has depicted the
terror and grandeur of the sea.
VI. LITERARY ART
A not uncommon tendency among the alliterative poets
to divide poems into more or less distinct sections, 1 is par-
ticularly observable in the early work of the author of
Purity, where the lines seem to be combined into groups
of four. There is some basis in the manuscript for recog-
nizing such a division, 2 3 * * * * for the same mark which in The
Pearl occurs at the beginning of each strophe, is found at
every fourth line (5, 9, etc.) in Patience and Purity . It
has been said that this division into sections, which might
almost be called stanzas, is consistently carried out in
Patience, whereas in Purity it appears chiefly at the begin-
ing and end of the poem. 8 It would be more accurate to
say that the more regular grouping of lines in Patience
appears in various passages in Purity, especially at the
beginning of the poem, but seems to have become less and
less marked as the poem progresses. The first sixteen lines,
for example, divide easily into four groups of four lines
each, but in the passage following there is no reason for a
1 Kaluza, Strophische Gliederung in der MittelenglischeH rein
Alliterirenden Dichtung: Engl. Stud. 16. 169-80.
3 The scribe’s use of capitals corresponds with this division. Of
the no lines which begin with capitals, only 7 are lines not imme-
diately following a multiple of 4. But the scribe would naturally
be more likely to capitalize wherever he had inserted a mark at
the beginning of the line, and the capitalization is in any case
somewhat erratic, since it often occurs where there is a less
important division than where it is omitted.
*Gollancz, Camb. Hist. 1. 361.
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xliv
Introduction
pause after 11 . 20, 36, 40, 44, 52, 56. But the twelve lines
(61-72) which tell the excuses offered by the wedding guests
are rather sharply divided into three sections of four lines
each. At the end of the poem the tendency to groups of
four is noticeable at 11. 1500-28, but thereafter the grouping
is very irregular, except in Daniel's exposition of the writing
on the wall (1725-40). It is, in fact, in such passages of
dialogue that the grouping is most marked. Abraham's
intercession for Lot and God's replies (729-64) exhibit
this regularity of form, but it is not always limited to groups
of four, since the dialogue of Lot and the angels (913-32)
is grouped 6, 6, 4, 4. On the other hand, in the more
important narrative passages, especially where an effect of
rapidity is desired — the rising of the flood (361-424), the
destruction of the evil cities (945-72), or the writing on
the wall and its sequel (1529 ff.)— no definite arrangement
can be traced. For this reason the poem can certainly not
be said to be written in four-line stanzas. The division is
not organic, but an indication of a desire on the part of
the poet to give greater stability of form to his lines where
that is needed. 1
Just as in The Pearl the beginning of every fifth strophe
is marked by a large illuminated letter, so Purity is divided
by the same means into thirteen irregular sections. 2 Even
X I have retained Morris’ numbering of the lines by fours, but
I have not ventured to print the poem in four-line stanzas, as
does Gollancz in editing Patience, since in many cases it would
break up obviously connected parts, or at least retard the movement
of the poem. Among the lines which, according to this arrange-
ment, ought to end a stanza, are the following where there is
hardly any or no pause (it must be remembered that a pause must
be very marked to indicate a division, since enjambement is rare
in the poem) : 200, 356, 472, 524, 612, 684, 784, 1272, 1420, 1444 1456,
1544, 1556, 1564, 1572, 1580, 1696, 1772, 1780. Cf. Emerson, Mod.
Lang. Notes 31. 2-4, for arguments against the adoption of the
quatrain arrangement in Patience .
* The shortest is only 44 lines (557-6oo), while the longest is 456
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VL Literary Art
xlv
though these divisions in Purity may not be the poet’s, 1 they
have been retained in the text as a convenient means of
giving the modem reader an opportunity to pause in the
perusal of this lengthy homily.
These convenient external divisions, however, must not
give the impression that the poem is a mere jumble of
Biblical incidents. The design of the whole is worked out
with elaborate care. Purity is recommended by three long
narratives from the Bible, which illustrate the vengeance
that God takes on those who fail in this virtue : the Flood
(249-544), the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah ( 557 “
1051), and the Downfall of Belshazzar (1157-1804). The
inclusion of the last narrative, the longest of the three, is
due to the wide application of the word clannesse, which
comprises not only chastity, but purity in the sense of free-
dom from any defilement. It is thus that Belshazzar, 2 who
defiles the sacred vessels of God at his impious feast,
becomes a sinner against clannesse or purity.
The introduction to these illustrations of the poet’s theme
is also elaborate. The poet begins by declaring that one
who undertakes to condemn purity need not lack material 0^
for his discourse (1-4). The man who worships God in
uncleanness brings God’s wrath upon him ; we could, indeed,
expect nothing else, since it would be strange if God, who
lines (1357-1812). In order to make the poem more easily read-
able, I have divided this last section, numbering 11. 1529-1640,
XHIa; 11. 1641-1740, XHIb; 11. 1741-1812, XIIIc; and the eleventh
and twelfth sections have been similarly divided, 11. 1049-1156 being
numbered XIa, and 11. 1261-1356, Xlla. Kaluza’s attempt ( Engl .
Stud. 16. 178) to divide Purity into sections of 60 lines each is
unsuccessful.
1 There is no apparent reason why there should be a division at
345, 485, or 689 ; but, on the other hand, the transitions are so care-
fully concealed that it would often be difficult to divide anywhere.
That the scribe or illuminator may have made a mistake is plain
from Pearl 961, where there is incorrect division.
* Cf. note on 1. 1357.
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Introduction
is himself so pure, should not loathe evil (5-22). After
this preamble comes the text of the homily, Christ’s own
statement in Matthew that only the pure in heart shall see
God (23-8). 1 This, the poet now expounds, means that
no one who is in any way defiled can approach God’s pure
presence (29-32) ; and to explain this concretely he narrates
at length the parable of the Man without a Wedding Gar-
ment (51-168), repeating the spiritual significance of the
parable at the end — that unclean deeds, like the foul clothes
of the wedding-guest, exclude a man from the joy of the
presence of the Lord. Of all sins by which a man may
forfeit bliss (177-92), ‘filth of the flesh’ most, displeases
God, as may be seen from the fact that only in avenging this
sin was his wrath really aroused (193-204). 2 He did not
become angry when he overthrew Lucifer (205-33), nor
when he drove Adam from Paradise (235-48), but only
in the third place, when he brought the Flood upon the
world for men’s unchastity. Only after this complicated
introduction does the poet narrate his three stories, the
Flood, the destruction of Sodom, and Belshazzar’s feast.
In the brief conclusion (1805-12) he reminds the reader that
he has shown the evils of uncleanness in three ways (1805),
repeating his text at the end in true homiletic style, and
closing with a prayer.
( The stories from the Bible are naturally accompanied by
'passages of exhortation and admonition, which form subtle
^transitions from one narrative passage to another. After
the poet has finished the story of the Flood, he urges his
. readers to avoid the sin which may prevent them from
attaining to the sight of God (545-56). God kept his
promise to Noah never again to destroy all flesh, but
nevertheless he took wrathful vengeance on mankind once
again for the same sin (557-80). Do not imagine that God
1 Cf. note on 1 . 25.
* Cf. note on 1 . 204.
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VI. Literary Art
xlvii
cannot perceive all the deeds of man and the thoughts of
his heart. Those whom he finds pure he honors, but the
others he scatters and slays in haste, as may be seen by his
punishment of the wicked cities (581-600). After this story
has been narrated, the poet introduces another and longer
exhortation to purity, urging the sinner to strive to imitate
Christ, whose pure birth and life the poet praises (1052-
108). This he may do by means of penance, which will
wash him of sin, as the pearl is brightened by wine
(1109-32). But having once been shriven, let him beware
of a return to sin. For God is especially angry that any-
thing which w^s once his should become unclean, though it
be only a basin or bowl consecrated to his service (1133-48).
Thus, by carefully concealed art, the poet passes from his
praise of purity to Belshazzar’s desecration of the vessels
of the Temple, his third and last narrative.
In addition to purity, one other virtue is commended, as
a kind of second theme, throughout the poem — what the
v poet calls trawpe, 1 which includes not only faithfulness to
men, but loyalty to God, or religious faith and belief.
Besides the three instances of God’s vengeance on men for
sin against purity, four other incidents of punishments
inflicted by Divine Justice are recorded, and each is because
the sinner was lacking in trawpe. Lucifer is represented as
a traitor (208 ff.) ; Adam is said specifically to have ‘fayled
in trawpe’ (236) ; Lot’s wife becomes a pillar of salt ‘for
two fautes J)at t>e fol was founde in mistrau|)e’ (996) ;
Jerusalem fell because the people were found ‘untrwe’
(1161) in their faith. The importance of these two virtues,
purity and loyalty, connect the poem closely with Gawain,
where the hero is tested in both at once.
The finer points in the poet’s workmanship may be seen
in his use of the Vulgate. The parts of the Vulgate which
form the basis of the illustrative stories in Purity are sub-
1 Cf. Miss Thomas, Sir Gawayne, p. 20.
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xlviii
Introduction
joined, 1 so that any one may examine in detail the different
methods of translation, paraphrase, and elaboration that
the poet employed. It will not, therefore, be necessary here
to give more than a few illustrations of the poet’s treat-
ment of the Biblical narrative. The most notable thing
about his translation is the frequency with which it is
absolutely literal. Take, for instance, five lines of God’s
speech to Noah (323-7), and compare it with the original
Latin (Gen. 6. 17-8) :
For I shal waken up a water to wasch alle pe worlde,
And quelle alle pat is quik wyth quavende flodez.
Alle pat glydez and gotz, and gost of lyf habbez,
I schal wast with my wrath pat wons upon urpe;
Bot my forward with pe I festen on J>is wyse.
Ecce adducam aquas diluvii super terram, ut interficiam
omnem carnem in qua spiritus vitae est subter caelum.
Universa quae in terra sunt, consumentur. Ponamque
foedus meum tecum.
Often the construction is so changed as to take away all
semblance of Biblical style, and, although the translation
remains accurate, the naturalness of the alliterative phrase
completely conceals the Scriptural origin. It would hardly
be suspected that Abraham’s instruction to Sarah (625-6) :
pre mettez of mele menge and ma kakez,
Under aske ful hote happe hem bylive.
is an exact rendering of the Vulgate (Gen. 18. 6) : tria
sata similce commisce et fac subcinericios panes. Even so
ordinary a line as (804)
And in pe myry mornyng 3e may your waye take
is a direct translation of et mane proficiscemini in viam
vestram (Gen. 19. 2). In the following passage the first
1 See Appendix.
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VI. Literary Art
xlix
line is translated with obvious literalness, but the second,
although it conveys the exact sense of the original, has no
verbal similitude (1669-70):
Watz not ]>is ilke worde wonnen of his mow)>e,
Er J>©nne ]>e soverayn sa3e souned in his eres.
Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de
caelo ruit (Dan. 4. 28).
The translation is generally most literal in the purely
narrative passages, and very much elaborated in such
descriptions as those of the Flood, of the destruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Belshazzar’s feast. But the
fact that the narrative parts of Belshazzar’s feast are greatly
expanded, as well as the story of the man without a wedding
garment, which contains no description, shows that this is
hardly the fundamental distinction between the use of literal
translation and elaborate paraphrase. It would, perhaps,
be truer and simpler to say that the poet elaborates what-
ever passages, narrative or descriptive, he wishes to empha-
size. And since the Biblical stories he tells are important
for him only as illustrations of. God’s acts of vengeance
against sin, this would account for the great expansion of
the descriptions of the flood and the destruction of the
cities, since there God inflicts punishment by natural
agencies, and the poet must emphasize the terrible aspects
of nature; and it would likewise explain the space given
to the narrative of Belshazzar’s downfall, since here God
metes out punishment by human agency, and the poet must
emphasize the terror of the king and the onslaught of his
enemies. 1 A good example of the poet’s method of elabora-
*It should, moreover, be remembered that the Biblical accounts
of Belshazzar's feast and the parable of the Wedding Garment are
comparatively short in the original, and need to be filled with more
details than the stories of Noah and Abraham and Lot; and also
that the poet is sometimes carried away with his story, and elaborates
a passage out of proportion to its importance; cf. p. lii.
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1
Introduction
tion is his description of the Flood, where many or most of
the striking details of the picture are the poet’s own inven-
tion, although he includes scattered through the passage
(361-424) reminiscences or paraphrases of almost all the
phrases in the brief Biblical account (361, cf. Gen. 7 - 10;
363-4, cf. Gen. 7. 11 ; 369, cf. Gen. 7. 17; 385, cf. Gen.
7. 19; 405-6, cf. Gen. 7. 20; 408-9, cf. Gen. 7. 22-3; 413,
cf. Gen. 7. 17; 415-6, cf. Gen. 7. 18).
The poet’s thorough familiarity with the Bible, if it were
not obvious from the ease with which he quotes and refers
to it, 1 might be judged from the skill with which he har-
monizes and combines different passages. This he exhibits
not only in the fusion of the two accounts of the parable
of the Wedding Feast, 2 and of the many passages con-
cerning the siege of Jerusalem and the seizure of the vessels
of the Temple, 8 but also in the interweaving of phrases and
the combinations of details not consecjitive in the original.
Some cases where a Biblical phrase has been shifted from
its original position or context may, of course, be due simply
to faulty memory 4 ; but others are plainly intentional. For
instance, the poet omits Gen. 6. 5, since almost the same
expression occurs later in Gen. 8. 21 (515-8), and for Gen.
6. 5 he substitutes a paraphrase of Gen. 6. 11, translating
cumque vidisset Deus terram esse corruptam by ‘when he
knew uche contre coruppte in hitselven’ (281), and com-
bining the clause with a paraphrase of Gen. 6. 6 (283-4).
Similarly in Daniel’s account of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and
exile, which in general follows Dan. 5. 18-21, are inserted
the details of Dan. 4. 27-30 — for example, Nebuchadnezzar’s
boastful speech (1663-8).
a Cf. Osgood, pp. xviiff.
8 Cf. note on 1 . 51.
*Cf. note on 1 . 1157.
4 The closeness of the translation in many passages makes it
improbable that the poet was composing entirely from memory.
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VI. Literary Art
li
Though the poet frequently rearranged his original, he
omitted comparatively little in the Biblical passages which
he followed. Some omissions are made to avoid the repeti-
tion that is not uncommon in Scriptural style : for instance,
the entrance of the animals into the ark (Gen. 7* 7" 9> I 4”6),
where the phraseology is the same as in God’s command to
Noah (Gen. 6. 19-20). So the sending out of the third
dove is not mentioned, perhaps because the poet thought it
would be an anticlimax after the second had brought back
the green branch of olives. To avoid an apparent incon-
sistency, the poet omits the passage in which Daniel says
‘Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another’
(Dan. 5. 17), since Daniel later accepts the reward offered
by Belshazzar.
Far more is added to the Biblical account than is taken
away. The apocryphal incidents attached to the Biblical
stories were traditional, and therefore throw no light on the
poet’s invention or art. Of the poet’s own additions hardly
any serves to modify or contribute to the characterization
of the personages. The only exceptions are the speech of
Nebuchadnezzar (1663 ff.), where the poet has prefixed to
the Biblical words the line (1623),
I am god of )>e grounde, to gye as me lykes,
which may be an echo of the Herod of the mystery plays ;
and the behavior of Belshazzar, whose physical manifesta-
tions of terror (1542-3) and blustering rage (1583-5) are
apparently emphasized in order to represent him as a
typical ‘boaster on bench.’ Again, the poet introduces some
passages for the sake of making his story clearer or more
coherent. To Abraham’s intercession for the faithful in
the cities of the plain, he adds a special intercession for
Lot (771-6), and in order to make the connection plainer,
he makes the angels who appear to Lot refer to Abraham’s
prayer for him (924).
By far the largest part of the lines not dependent on the
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lii
Introduction
Vulgate are elaboration of detail and ornamentation. It is
significant that the poet does not modify or add to the
narrative in order to enforce his moral, or call attention to
the particular application of his story . 1 To be sure, he
tells us the significance and point of each narrative before
he begins it; but once embarked on it, he depends for his
moral effect solely on the vividness of his presentation of
the doom of the wicked. The brief outline of Belshazzar’s
story that he found in the fifth chapter of Daniel, he fills
out with all the trappings of mediaeval chivalry, the sound
of trumpets and gay revelry, the lavish ornament of
precious jewels, and all the splendor that God shatters in
a single night. Out of the few verses which relate the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he forms a picture
that in its terrible grandeur is unsurpassed by any poet
of his time.
It is, in fact, the gorgeous color and swift movement of
such passages of Purity that make the poem worthy to
endure. For, in spite of the fact that the outline is clear
and carefully worked out, the poem is not well proportioned.
The story of the destruction of the cities need hardly have
had so long a preamble as that which includes the announce-
ment of an heir to Abraham. And the introduction to
Belshazzar’s Feast, which narrates the siege of Jerusalem
and the seizure of the sacred vessels, both elaborated with
much irrelevant detail, is also unnecessarily long. The poet
apparently found such excellent material for story-telling
in the events recorded that he could not refrain from insert-
ing it. He becomes so engrossed in his narrative that he
forgets that his stories are not being written for their own
sake, but as illustrations of a particular theme. Abraham’s
prayer for Lot illustrates another fault of the poet. His
1 The only instance I have noted is 1 . 302, which the poet adds in
order to bring out his point that God was really wrathful ; cf . note
on 1. 204.
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VII . Metre and Alliteration
liii
remarkable resources of language, his scorn of repeating
the same thought in the same words, is often a virtue, dis-
tinguishing him from many lesser poets who monotonously
repeat the same alliterative phrase. But it becomes a fault
when he attempts to find a different phrase for each of
Abraham’s questions and God’s answers; and the whole
passage, which is effective in the Bible because of its very
simplicity and brevity, becomes in Purity a tedious tour de
force, so obviously is the poet striving to avoid repetition.
It is also possible to discover faults in the poet’s style;
for the frequent abruptness and obscurity of his lines can
hardly be ascribed to the defective state of the text. Ana-
coluthon and involved constructions are to be found in no
small number in all his poems. But at his best this bold-
ness in syntax and style results in extraordinary vigor and
originality of expression. And with this virility of style is
combined a sense of beauty that flashes out in brief simile,
or unfolds itself in description of the wild aspects of nature,
and the gorgeous pageantry of mediaeval life in peace and
in war. Yet the poet is capable also of tender feeling, such
as is revealed in the strain of almost lyric sweetness in
which he hymns the praise of the Virgin . 1 It is such
qualities as these that enable us to recognize in Purity, in
spite of its unevenness and lack of proportion, the author
of the greater poems, The Pearl and Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight .
VII. METRE AND ALLITERATION
The poetry of the Middle English alliterative school is
probably, as we have seen, not a learned revival of Old
English alliterative poetry, but simply the continuation of
a tradition of which the intermediate stages have been lost.
In any case, it is certain that the long alliterative line of
1 LI. 1075 ff.
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liv
Introduction
Old English poetry forms the basis for that used by the
Middle English writers. But though the essential prin-
ciples are the same, Middle English alliterative verse differs
strikingly from Old English in several respects. The most
important difference for the general movement of the verse
is the tendency to make each line a rhythmic entity, and to
avoid altogether the enjambement which is so marked a
characteristic of Old English poetry. The only means of
defining the limits of the line in Old English was the
alliteration, since it was usual to begin a sentence in the
middle of one verse and to end it in the middle of another . 1
But as soon as the lines came to be all end-stopped, as in
Middle English alliterative verse, the line was defined by the
pause at the end, and the alliteration, since it was now no
longer structurally indispensable, became much less strict . 2
The results of this decrease in the structural importance of
alliteration will be seen below in the more detailed discussion
of the use of alliteration in Purity . The modification of the
rhythm of the line was accompanied by many changes 3 in
the types of half-line common in Old English, some of
which were abandoned in Middle English, and others
developed and modified.
Two entirely different theories are held concerning the
form of the Middle English (and also Old English)
alliterative line. Without venturing into a discussion of the
evidence for either one, the orthodox view may be given
here, that each half-line contains two stresses . 4 The first
four lines of Purity would accordingly be read thus :
1 Deutschbein, pp. 7 ff.
1 Cf. J. Thomas, Die Alliterierende Langzeile des Gawain -
dichters, p. 9.
*For details, see Deutschbein’s dissertation, and Luick in Paul's
Grundriss, 2d ed., 2. 2. 162; for the form the types take in Purity,
Thomas’ dissertation should be consulted.
4 This theory, which has the support of Sievers, Skeat, Schipper,
and Luick, was followed by J. Thomas in his valuable dissertation
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VII . Metre and Alliteration
lv
Clinnesse who so kyndly - cow)>e comende,
And rekken up alle ]>e r^sounz - J>at ho by ri3t askez,
Fayre formez my3t he fynde - in forj^ering his sp£che,
And in )>e contrare kirk - and combraunce huge.
As in most poems of the alliterative school, there was a
strong tendency to avoid a masculine ending of the line,
and the final syllable was generally a weak e, which was
probably always pronounced . 1
As in Old English, the alliteration is generally on the two
stresses of the first half-line, and the first stress of the
second half-line, but the presence of only one alliterating
word in the first half-line, which is permissible in Old
English, is rare in Middle English . 2 In general, however,
on the alliterative lines of the Gawain-poet. The dissertation of
Fischer, a pupil of Trautmann, attempts to prove the existence of
four stresses in the first half-line and three in the second (four in
Old English). The great number of rash emendations that Fischer
finds necessary in order to provide enough words for seven stresses
to the line, inclines one to extreme distrust of his work and of the
soundness of his theory — see, for example, the liberal besprinkling
of ful’s and mony’s, p. 19 and passim. Kuhnke, whose dissertation
is limited to Gawain , also follows the theory of four stresses for
the half-line.
1 Thomas (pp. 21 ff.) tries to show that all the lines of the original
had weak ending, and those which do not he makes conform to the
majority by adding e’s, organic and inorganic, and by several
emendations. Though undoubtedly certain spellings, such as gette
at the end of 867, lead to the suspicion that the original may have
had gette, not get , at 815, 1021, 1049 (Thomas notes only 815), and
though it is naturally impossible to prove in most cases that there
could not have been analogical and inorganic e’s> certain cases, such
as perwyth of 1501 and hygt Cam of 299, where Thomas is obliged
to resort to unlikely emendations, show that the weak ending
cannot be accepted as a rule without exception. For this reason,
and because of the considerable number (8%) of masculine endings
in the manuscript, I have not emended any of the final words of
the line except for other than metrical reasons.
3 The following lines of Purity contain only one alliterating word
in the first half: 105, 17& 315, 427. 77«, 779, 958, 993, 1073, 1518,
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Introduction
the principles of alliteration are much less strict than in Old
English. Alliteration is becoming less of a structural
necessity and more of an ornament. This may be seen, in
the first place, in the fact that unstressed words and prefixes
may bear the alliteration, as in the following lines :
63 On hade bo3t hym a bor3, he sayde, by hys trawpe.
1 14 Ay pe best by fore and bry3test atyred. Cf. bifore, 918, 978.
127 And rehayte rekenly pe riche and pe poveren.
197 Bot never 3et in no boke breved I herde.
Another indication that the alliteration is becoming mere
ornament is the tendency to crowd as many alliterating
words as possible in a single line. Lines with three allit-
erating words in the first half are very common, but many
lines have even more. The author of Purity is especially
fond of such superabundant alliteration, for example :
1 13 Wheper pay wern worpy oper wers, wel wern pay stowed.
661 penne sayde oure Syre per he sete: ‘Se, so Sare la3es.’
1681 His hert heldet unhole, he hoped non oper.
In Purity, as in most contemporary alliterative poems,
double alliteration is not unusual. This is generally
parallel — a a b b , as in
299 Sem soply pat on, pat oper hy3t Cam.
Here, and in 345, 1304, 1573, 1622, it is essential in the
structure of the verse, since these lines would otherwise
have to be considered defective; but elsewhere it is added
to the regular alliteration as additional ornamentation, as in
25 Me mynez on one amonge oper, as Mapew recordez.
493 Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth pe fyrst.
Transverse alliteration — abab — appears in
515 For I se wel pat hit is sothe pat alle mannez wyttez,
1571, 1727, 1807. This list does not include those lines where
double alliteration is possible. No alliteration appears in the second
half-line of 28, and in MS. 520, 745 (emended in text).
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VII . Metre and Alliteration
lvii
and possibly in 228, 327, 1618. Inclusive alliteration —
abb a — appears in
608 Hit is e)>e to leve by >e last ende,
and perhaps in 67, 735.
Most of the peculiarities of the poet in the sounds and
combinations of sounds which are used for alliteration are
shared by his contemporaries. 1 Alliteration on the same
vowel, which is avoided in Old English poetry, is frequently
found in Purity, for example, 241, 277, 411, 713, 1006, 1035,
1301, 1470. Vowels alliterate freely with h before vowel,
whether it be of Germanic or Romance origin. Likewise,
no distinction is made between w and wh — whyte, for
example, alliterating with Wynnes and worschyp (1120).
In general, sk, sp, st, as in Old English, do not alliterate
with s; and this is also the case with sch and sm? Finally,
the poet exhibits a particular fondness for alliterating cer-
tain groups, such as cl (634, 839, 858, 965, 1400) and str
(307, 880, 1199, 1540). Sometimes two consecutive lines
have the same alliteration, but the practice of the author of
Morte Arthur of grouping from three to five lines together
a For the characteristics of the Gawain-poet in alliteration, see
Trautmann, Uber Verf., pp. 29-31; for further discussion of the
alliteration, see Fischer, pp. 38-48, Thomas, pp. 59-64, and especially
Schumacher’s excellent dissertation on the alliteration of the whole
ME. school.
*Sp alliterates with itself without exception; sk 14 times with
itself, but once irregularly with s (523) ; st 35 times with itself,
and only once with s (999), since 995 may be considered double
alliteration (Schumacher, p. no). The curious fact may be noted
here that in excused, 62, the sk alliterates, whereas in excuse, 70,
the alliteration is with k; sp is always the alliterative sound in
expounde (1058, 1492, 1565, 1606, 1729). Sch alliterates twice with
s (58, 566) and once with sk (600) ; sm alliterates only with itself
except at 566, and possibly 1019 (see note). Other peculiarities are
the alliteration of 2 with s (1169), cf. Pat . 470, Gaw . 517; and
ch with k ? (464), but see Schumacher, p. 169.
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lviii
Introduction
by this means, is wholly unknown to the author of Purity
and Patience .
VIII. DIALECT AND LANGUAGE 1
It is difficult to determine precisely the dialect of this
group of alliterative poems. The criterion of rhyme is not
altogether satisfactory because of the paucity of rhymes in
Gawain, and the license in the use of rhyme required by
the metre of The Pearl } The peculiarities of vocabulary,
the large number of Scandinavian loan-words, for example,
which have led some editors to place the poems in Lanca-
shire or Cheshire , 3 are not sufficiently distinctive to fix the
origin of the poem within such definite geographical limits.
On the other hand, if these tests of the dialect of the
original poem yield only vague results, it is certain that the
dialectal traits of the manuscript as we now have it are
overwhelmingly West Midland in character.
Among the characteristics that point to this dialect are
X A new investigation of the language of this group of poems is
not attempted in this section. The studies of the language of these
poems by Morris, Schwahn, Fick, and Knigge (see Bibliography),
though old, are still valuable, and should be consulted for details.
Only the chief dialectal characteristics and a few other peculiarities
of the language, knowledge of which may save the reader trouble,
are mentioned.
2 On the rhymes of The Pearl , see Fick, p. 8.
8 Bateson (p. xxxii), following Morris, attributes the poems to
Lancashire, but the evidence for this on the basis of the vocabulary
of modern dialects is entirely insufficient. Brunner ( Archiv 1 32.
185) rightly criticizes this view, but he seems to me too skeptical
in rejecting any conclusions about the original dialect of the poems.
Wyld {Engl. Stud . 47. 47) objects to Lancashire on other grounds.
4 These tests of dialect are based chiefly on the characteristics
enumerated by Morsbach in his Mittelenglische Grammatik (Halle,
1896), pp. 15-7, esp. p.,15 n.; and Wyld in his Short History of
English (London, 1914), pp. 122-3. The only characteristic generally
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VIII . Dialect and Language
lix
(i) the frequent representation of OE. eo by u, as in urpe,
150; brurdes, 1474; (2) the frequent use of 0 before
nasals, as in honde, 174, 734 (as well as hande, 34, 155),
and mon, 124, 183, etc. (as well as man , 51, 180, etc.) ; (3)
the representation of OE. y by u ( ui , uy), 1 as well as by y,
as in fust, 1535, beside fyste, 1723; luper, 163, beside
lyperly, 36; huyde, 915; kuy, 1259; (4) the participial
ending -ande as in the North, in contrast to the -ende
of East Midland; (5) the occurrence of the pronominal
form pay (from Old Norse), together with the native forms
her, hem, and the preservation of the feminine nom. ho;
(6) the use of the curious form schyn, 1435, 1810, as pres.
3 pi. of schal. 2 The evidence of the manuscript, to be sure,
is not proof that the dialect of the original, as well as that
of the scribe, was West Midland, but there is every likeli-
hood that they were not very different. Morris declared 3
that ‘the uniformity and consistency of the grammatical
forms is so entire, that there is no internal evidence of
subsequent transcription into .any other dialect than that
in which they were originally written/ It would perhaps
be safer to say that most of the dialectal characteristics of
the manuscript are undoubtedly those of the poet himself.
The evidence of the manuscript, together with that of the
vocabulary and the rhymes of the other poems by the same
author, make it almost certain that Purity was actually
composed in the West Midland dialect. 4
found in West Midland, and not usual in the poems of this group,
is the occurrence of u for e in such endings as -us, -ud, for - es , - ed ;
but there are at least two examples of this — flemus (pres. 3 sg.),
Pur. 31, and exorsismus (pi.), 1579.
1 That OE. y was often kept (written u, etc.) in West and Central
Midland, has been shown by Wyld, Engl. Stud. 47. 1-58. On the
basis of his investigation Wyld would assign the poems of this
group to Derbyshire rather than Lancashire (p. 47).
a Cf. Morris, Early Engl. A Hit. Poems, p. xxvi.
1 Early Engl. A llit. Poems, p. viii.
4 It has been suggested by some students of the language, for
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lx
Introduction
Certain Northern traits are generally assumed to be due
to the fact that the poet was writing in the northern part
of the West Midland area. Among Northern character-
istics are ( i ) the ending of the pres. 2 and 3 sg. in -s, -es
(- ez ) ; (2) the occasional ending - et in the preterite of
weak verbs, as in bounet, 1398; tulket, 1414 (Schwahn,
p. 18) ; (3) the appearance of contract forms like ma, 625 ;
tats, 735; bos, 687; (4) the representation of OE. hw
by qu (as well as by Southern wh ), as in quite, 1440; quo,
1650; and (5) the representation of OE. a by a (as well
as by Southern 0 ), as in halde, 652 (but holde once, 315).
Certain other peculiarities of the manuscript — phonologi-
cal, orthographical, and morphological— may be noted here
for the convenience of the reader.
I. Phonological and Orthographical.
(a) Vowels, e frequently becomes i: kynned, 915, 1072;
fyper, 530, 1026; rydelles, 969, but redles, 1197 ( e here
shortened from OE. ce, e). Still more frequently i appears
as e: wekked, 855, beside wykked, 570; prevenest, 1571,
beside pryvenest, 1639; peder, 64, 461, beside pider, 45, 61.
The spelling y (for OE., ON. 1, OF. i) is much commoner
than i. OE. tig, dg, and ag (final) are all spelled either
ow or o, the last two frequently ogh: bowe, 45, 67, but
bog, 1551, 1750; innoghe, 669, but innoge, 808; wowes,
instance Fick (p. 9), that the present form of the poems shows
traces of being a copy by a Southern scribe. But it is no longer
necessary to assume this, since most of these characteristics are now
known not to be peculiar to the Southern dialect. Thus the repre-
sentation of OE. y by u is now known to be West and Central
Midland as well as Southern (see above, p. 72) ; the retention of -i-
in the OE. weak verbs of the second class, as in lyvyes, wonyes,
is not necessarily an indication of Southern dialect (see Schiidde-
kopf’s Sprache u. Diale kt . . . William of Palerne, Erlangen,
1886, p. 104, and Boerner’s Die Sprache Roberd Mannyngs of
Brunne, Halle, 1904, pp. 218-9) J and the participles in -ing which
occur in The Pearl and Gawain are at this late period Midland as
well as Southern (Kaluza, Engl. Gram. 2. 191).
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VIII . Dialect and Language
lxi
1403, but woges, 1424. OE . dw appears both as aw ( au )
and ow: stawed, 360; staued, 352; stowed, 113. ^
(b) Consonants. Following a nasal, final g is often, ?
medial g is sometimes, written k: 1 pink, 1359 (for ping
pinkez% 916; inspranc, 408. Similarly after nasals, g frt,
quently stands for k: ring, 592 (for rink) ; stangez, 439,
plural of stanc, 1018 (OF. estanc). Final $ is often
written z (MS. g), probably indicating the voicing of the
consonant: askez, 2; weldez, 17; but folges, 6. The spell-
ing tz (=2) occurs chiefly in unstressed forms like hatz,
1597 ; watz, 134. W sometimes occurs for wh, as in wen,
343 (cf. p. lvii on the alliteration of wh with w ). Often w
represents v in words of various origin: pewes (for peves),
1 14 2; awayled, 408; wenge, 201.
II. Inflection. 2
(a) Nouns. The plural generally ends in -es (-s), -ez.
Some plurals without ending occur: sype, 1188, 1417;
tnyle, 138 7; pink, 1359; ger, 1192. Some remains of the
OE. weak plural are to be found, for example, ygen, 588,
and the ending -( e)n has been added analogically to a few
French words: trumpen, 1402, and perhaps paune, 1697
(see note). The adjectives pover and stum have the plurals
poveren, 127 and sturnen, 1402. The genitive case of
nouns is frequently without ending in the singular: kyte
paune, 1697; gisterday steven, 463 (here perhaps because
of the initial s) ; especially in proper names, Baltazar pewes,
1436; Israel Drygtyn, 1314. In the plural the genitive case
often ends in -en (OE. - ena ) : blonkken bak, 1412; besten
blod, 1446; chyldryn fader, 684.
1 That this confusion of ng with nk (which is one of Skeat’s
canons for Anglo-French spelling) is here not merely a scribal
error, but due to the author himself, is shown by the rhyme in
Pearl: flonc (for flong ), 1165, with ronk, bone, wlonk . On the
unvoicing of final d see note on 1. 473.
8 The glossary should be consulted for the forms of the pronouns.
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lxii
Introduction
(b) Verbs. The infinitive ends in -e, sometimes in - en .
The endings of the present indicative should be noted:
sg. i -e, 2 and 3 -es (- ez ) ; plur. -e, - en , sometimes -es (-ez).
The present participle in Purity always ends in - ande ; the
past participle of strong verbs in -en, seldom in The
preterite 2 sg. sometimes ends in -es (-as): fortes, 348;
mogtez, 655. The preterite and past participle of weak
verbs sometimes omit the final -d 1 : wyrle, 475; wer, 69.
1 Mabel Day ( Mod . Lang . Rev. 14. 413) finds in the Gawain-poet
30 cases in which weak verbs ending in l, n, r, or a vowel, exhibit
this irregularity before a vowel or unstressed h, or unstressed
voiced th . Some of the cases here cited, e. g. sware, 1415, may be
simply presents, since sudden change of tense is not uncommon
in the poem.
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PURITY
TEXT
Digitized by
ABBREVIATIONS
M. = Morris, revised edition of 1869 (for full titles, see Bibliog-
raphy) .
M.* = Morris, 1864 )
M . 2 _ Morris, 1869 ) when differences between the editions are noted.
Sk. = Morris and Skeat, Specimens, 1884.
K. = Knigge.
Fi. = Fischer, pp. 61-3, unless otherwise stated.
Sch. = Schumacher, pp. 183-4, unless otherwise stated.
Th. = J. Thomas.
B. = Bateson, Mod . Lang . Rev . 13. 377-86.
G. = Gollancz, ibid. 14. 152-62.
E. = Emerson, Publ. Mod . Lang. Ass. 34. 494-522.
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PURITY
I. Christ’s , Praise of Purity; The Wedding-Feast
Clannesse who so kyndly cowjie comende, [61a] ^
And rekken up alle resounz ]>at ho by ri3t askez,
Fayre formez my3t he fynde in for[J)]ering his speche,
And in t>e contrare, kark and combraunce huge. 4
For wonder wroth is J>e Wy3 J>at wro3t alle [)inges
Wyth J>e freke ]?at in fyl]>e fol3es hym after—
As renkez of relygioun J>at reden and syngen,
And aprochen to hys presens, and prestez am called. 8
Thay teen unto his temmple and temen to hymselven,
Reken wyth reverence £>ay r[ec]hen his auter,
Pay hondel J>er his aune body and usen hit bo])e :
If [>ay in clannes be clos, [>ay cleche gret mede; 12
Bot if [>ay conterfete crafte, and cortaysye wont,
As be honest utwyth, and inwith alle fyl])ez,
Pen ar ])ay synful hemself, and sulped altogeder,
Lo])e God and his gere, and hym to greme cachen. 16
He is so clene in his corte, J>e Kyng ]>at al weldez,
And honeste in his housholde and hagherlych served,
With angelez enorled in alle ])at is clene,
Bo[)e wythinne and wythouten, in wedez ful bry3t, 20
Nif he nere scoymus and skyg and non scaj)e lovied,
Hit were a mervayl to much, hit mo3t not falle.
Kryst kydde hit hymself in a carp onez,
2 and here, as generally, represented by & in MS . — 3 MS., M.
forering; M. note forbering( ?) ; Th. (p. 44 ), B. forJ>ering. — 10
MS., w 1 which M. here, as always, expands with, I have expanded
wyth, since this is the spelling in over two-thirds of the cases where
the scribe writes it out: MS. r..hen with second and third letters
blurred, though c is partly legible . — 16 MS. (but see Introd., p. x) ;
M. bo)>e. — 1 7 corte, M. here, as always, expands courte (but see
Introd., p. x, n. 3).
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4
Purity
I>er as he hevened a3t happez, and hy3t hem her
medez. 24
Me mynez on one amonge oJ)er, as Ma]?ew recordez,
I>at l>us of clannesse unclosez a f ul cler speche :
J>e ha£>el clene of his hert hapenez ful fayre,
For he schal loke on oure Lorde wyth a bone chere ; 28
As so saytz, to J>at sy3t seche schal he never
f>at any unclannesse hatz on, auwhere abowte;
For he J)at flemus uch fylj>e fer fro his hert
May not byde t>at bur[n]e ])at hit his body ne3en. 32
Forl>y hy3 not to heven in haterez totorne,
Ne in t>e harlatez hod and handez unwaschen.
For what ir])ly haj)el f>at hy3 honor haldez
Wolde lyke if a ladde com ly^erly attyred, 36
When he were sette solempnely in a sete ryche, [ 61 b]
Abof dukez on dece, wyth dayntys served —
Pen \>e harlot wyth haste helded to \>e table
Wyth rent cokrez at \>e kne, and his clutte traschez, 40
And his tabarde totorne, and his totez oute,
0])er ani on of alle f>yse, he schulde be halden utter,
With mony blame, ful bygge a boffet, peraunter,
Hurled to f>e halle-dore and harde Reroute schowved, 44
And be forboden ]>at bor3e to bowe J)ider never,
On payne of enprysonment and puttyng in stokkez ;
And J)us schal he be schent for his schrowde feble,
P&5 never in talle ne in tuch he trespas more. 48
And if unwelcum he were to a wor[d]lych prynce,
26 clannesse, the scribe has corrected the first s from 3. — 28 MS.,
M. bone; Sch, Plovly. — 30 M. anwhere (MS. might be either n
or u; M. note aywhere(?); Fi. awhere, B . anwhere: abowte, the
last three letters are blurred and barely legible, like the last few
letters of most of ll. 26-36. — 32 M. burne; M 2 is mistaken in
noting that MS. looks like burre, since the fourth letter resembles
rather the top of a y. — 34 MS. harlate3, though second a blurred;
M. harlote3. — 38 MS. duke3; M. dukes. — 40 MS. trasche3,* M.
trasches. — 49 MS., M. worjdych; M.* note worldlych( ?).
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Purity
5
get hym is \>e hy3e Kyng harder in [heven],
As Ma£>ew melez in his masse of J>at man ryche,
I>at made £>e mukel mangerye to marie his here dere, 52
And sende his sonde \>en to say \>aX l>ay samne schulde,
And in comly quoyntis to com to his feste.
‘For my boles and my borez arn bayted and slayne,
And my fedde foulez fatted wyth scla3t, 56
My polyle l>at is penne-fed and partrykez bo£>e,
Wyth scheldez of wylde swyn, swanez and cronez —
A 1 is roJ>eIed and rosted ry3t to sete ;
Comez cof to my corte, er hit colde worJ>e/ 60
When J>ay knewen his cal J>at ])ider com schulde,
Alle excused hem by J>e skyly he scape by mo3t.
On hade bo3t hym a bor3, he sayde, by hys trawj>e,
‘Now t[ur]ne I Jieder als tyd, J>e toun to byholde.’ 64
Anof>er nayed also, and nurned J>is cawse :
‘I haf 3erned and 3at 3okkez of oxen,
And for my hy3ez hem bo3t ; to bowe haf I mester,
To see hem pulle in [>e plow aproche me byhovez.’ 68
‘And I haf wedded a wyf / so wer hym J>e t>ryd,
‘Excuse me at f>e cort, I may not com \>cre.’
Pus J>ay dro3 hem adre3 wyth daunger uch one,
t>at non passed to t>e pla[c]e, [>a3 he prayed were. 72
Thenne J>e ludych lorde lyked ful ille, [ 62 a]
And hade dedayn of J>at dede ; ful dry3ly he carpez.
He saytz: ‘Now for her owne sor3e J>ay forsaken
habbez,
More to wyte is Tier wrange t>en any wylle gentyl. 76
t>enne gotz forth, my gomez, to t>e grete streetez,
And forsettez on uche a syde t>e cete aboute ;
Pe wayferande frekez, on fote and on hors,
50 MS., M . in her euen; M. 2 note her-in(?); so Ft. — 54 B.
to-com. — 57 MS. partryke3; M. partrykes. — 62 MS., M. he; Fi.
J>ay. — 64 MS. tne; M. t[ur]ne. — 69 MS., M. sower; M. note
swer(?); Fi. (p. 47) so werp; B. so werned. — 72 MS. plate, as
M. notes.
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6
Purity
Bope burnez and burdez, pe better and pe wers, 80
Lapez hem alle luflyly to lenge at my fest,
And bryngez hem blyj>ly to bor3e as barounez pay
were,
So pat my palays plat f ul be py3t al aboute ;
J>ise oper wrechez iwysse worpy no3t wern/ 84
I>en pay cayred and com pat pe cost waked,
Bro3ten bachlerez hem wyth pat pay by bonkez
metten,
Swyerez pat swyftly swyed on blonkez,
And also fele upon fote, of fre and of bonde. 88
When pay com to pe corte, keppte wern pay fayre,
Sty3tled wyth pe stewarde, stad in pe halle,
Ful manerly wyth marchal mad for to sitte,
As he watz dere of degre dressed his seete. 92
Penne seggez to pe soverayn sayden perafter:
‘Lo ! lorde, wyth yor leve, at yor lege heste,
And at pi banne we haf bro3t, as pou beden habbez,
Mony renischche renkez, and 3et is roum more/ 96
Sayde pe lorde to po ledez, ‘Laytez 3et ferre,
Ferre out in pe felde, and fechez mo gestez,
Waytez gorstez and grevez, if ani gomez lyggez,
What-kyn folk so per fare, fechez hem hider; 100
Be pay fers, be pay feble, forlotez none,
Be pay hoi, be pay halt, be pay on-y3ed,
And pa3 pay ben bope blynde and balterande
cruppelez,
I>at my hous may holly by halkez by fylled. 104
For, certez, pyse ilk renkez pat me renayed habbe
And denounced me no3t now at pis tyme,
Schul never sitte in my sale my soper to fele,
Ne suppe on sope of my seue, pa3 pay swelt schulde/ 108
86 metten, n corrected by scribe from 3. — 101 MS., M . forlotez ;
M. note forletez(P). — 104 may, scribe apparently first wrote ia
and corrected to m: MS. halke3; M. halkes: MS., M. by; Fi. be.
— 108 MS., M . 1 J>a3 }>a3 ; M * J>a3.
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7
Purity
Thenne t>e sergauntez, at J)at sawe, swengen
Reroute, [ 62 b]
And diden J>e dede J>at [is] demed, as he devised hade,
And wyth peple of alle plytez J>e palays t>ay fyllen —
Hit weren not alle on wyvez sunez, wonen wyth on
fader. 112
Whe])er J>ay wern worJ>y oJ)er wers, wel wern J>ay
stowed,
Ay \>e best byfore and bry3test atyred,
Pe derrest at J>e hy3e dese ]>at dubbed wer fayrest ;
And syt>en on len£>e bilooghe ledez inogh, 116
And ay a segge soerly semed by her wedez.
So with marschal at her mete mensked ]>ay were;
Clene men in compaynye forknowen wern lyte,
And 3et J>e symplest in J>at sale watz served to \>e fulle, 120
Bo])e with menske and wyth mete and mynstrasy
noble,
And alle J>e laykez ]>at a lorde a3t in londe schewe.
And ]>ay bigonne to be glad t>at god drink haden,
And uch mon wyth his mach made hym at ese. 124
II. The Punishment of the Man in Foul Clothes
Now inmyddez f>e mete ]>e mayster hym bij)03t,
Pat he wolde se J>e semble t>at samned was J>ere,
And rehayte rekenly ]>e riche and \>e poveren,
And cherisch hem alle wyth his cher, and chaufen
her joye. 128
Pen he bowez fro his bour into t>e brode halle,
And to f>e best on t>e bench, and bede hym be myry,
Solased hem wyth semblaunt and syled fyrre,
no MS. }>at demed; M. }>at [is]; Ft. J?at [he]. — 116 bilooghe,
see Introd p. x, n. 2.-117 MS. t M. soerly; M. note soberly(?);
E . serly. — 1 19 compaynye, scribe corrected second y from i. — 127
MS. poven er, i. e. scribe put curl for -er over wrong letter; cf.
Gaw. 124, sylvener for sylveren.
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8
Purity
Tron fro table to table and talkede ay myr]>e. 132
Bot as he ferked over t>e flor, he fande wyth his
y3 e —
Hit watz not for a halyday honestly arayed —
A J>ral \>ry$t in J>e [>rong un^ryvandely closed,
Ne no festival frok, bot fyled with werkkez; 136
Pe gome watz ungarnyst wyth god men to dele.
And gremed J)erwyth t>e grete lord, and greve hym
he
‘Say me, frende/ quod J>e freke wyth a felle chere,
‘Hou wan ]>ou into \>is won in wedez so fowle? 140
I>e abyt t>at ]dou hatz upon, no halyday hit menskez;
Pou, burne, for no brydale art busked in wedez!
How watz J)ou hardy J)is hous for J>yn unhap [to]
ne3e,
In on so ratted a robe and rent at [>e sydez? 144
I>ow art a gome ungoderly in ]>at goun f ebele ; [ 63 a]
E>ou praysed me and my place ful pover and ful
[g]nede,
E>at watz so prest to aproche my presens hereinne.
Hopez \>ou I be a harlot \>i erigaut to prayse?’ 148
I>at o]>er burne watz abayst of his bro])e wordez,
And hurkelez doun with his hede, \>e ur]>e he biholdez ;
He watz so scoumfit of his scylle, lest he ska]>e hent,
E>at he ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde. 152
Pen ])e lorde wonder loude laled and cryed,
And talkez to his tormenttorez : ‘Takez hym/ he
biddez,
‘Byndez byhynde, at his bak, bo]>e two his handez,
And felle fetterez to his fete festenez bylyve; 156
Stik hym stifly in stokez, and stekez hym ]>erafter
Depe in my doungoun ]>er doel ever dwellez,
Greving and gretyng and gryspyng harde
143 to supplied by M. — 146 MS. nede; M. [g]nede. — 148 M.
erigant.
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Purity 9
Of tej)e tenfully togeder, to teche hym be quoynt.’ 160
Thus comparisunez Kryst t>e kyndom of heven
To J>is frelych feste J>at fele am to called ;
For alle arn la^ed luflyly, l>e lu^er and better,
Pat ever wern ful3ed in font J)at fest to have. 164
Bot war \>e wel, if t>ou wylt, \>y wedez ben clene,
And honest for \>t halyday, lest ]x>u harme lache,
For aproch ]dou to l>at Pry nee of parage noble —
He hates helle no more J>en hem J>at ar sowle. 168
Wich arn J>enne J)y wedez ]x>u wrappez J>e inne,
Pat schal schewe hem so schene schrowde of fce best ?
Hit am J>y werkez, wyterly, t>at J)ou wro3t havez,
And lyved wyth J>e lykyng J>at ly3e in \>yn hert, 172
Pat {>o be frely and fresch fonde in J>y lyve.
And fetyse of a fayr forme, to fote and to honde,
And syt>en alle t>yn o\>er lymez lapped ful clene;
Penne may })ou se \>y Savior and his sete ryche, 176
For fele fautez may a freke forfete his blysse,
Pat he f>e Soverayn ne se — ]?en for slau^e one,
As for bobaunce and bost, and bolnande pryde,
Proly into f>e develez |)rote man J>ryngez bylyve; 180
For covetyse, and colwarde and croked dedez,
For mon-sworne, and men-scla3t, and to much
drynk, [ 63 b]
For |>efte, and for |>repyng, unjxmk may mon have;
For roborrye, and riboudrye, and resounez untrwe, 184
And dysheriete and depryve dowrie of wydoez,
For marryng of maryagez, and mayntnaunce of
schrewez,
For traysoun and trichcherye, and tyrauntyre boJ)e,
And for fals famacions and fayned lawez — 188
Man may mysse J>e myrj>e |>at much is to prayse
161 MS,, M. heven. — 168 MS,, M, sowle; M, note fowle(?);
Fi. soudly. — 179 MS,, M, pnyde, but this is merely the scribe’s
error in adding y after he had already made the abbreviation . —
187 M, suggests loJ>e(?) for boJ>e.
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IO
Purity
For such unpewez as pise, and pole much payne,
And in pe Creatores cort com never more,
Ne never see hym with sy3t for such sour tornez. 192
III. God’s Vengeance on Lucifer and on Adam
Bot I have herkned and herde of mony hy3e clerkez,
And als in resounez of ry3t red hit myselven,
Pat pat ilk proper Prynce pat paradys weldez
Is displesed at uch a poynt pat plyes to scape. 196
Bot never 3et ip no boke breved I herde
Pat ever he wrek so wyperly on werk pat he made,
Ne venged for no vilte of vice ne synne,
Ne so hastyfly watz hot for hatel of his wylle, 200
Ne never so sodenly so3t unsoundely to weng[e],
As for fylj>e of pe flesch pat foies han used.
For, as I fynde, per he for3et alle his fre pewez,
And wex wod to pe wrache for wrath at his hert. 204
For pe fyrste felonye pe falce fende wro3t,
Whyl he watz hy3e in pe heven hoven upon lofte,
Of alle pyse apel aungelez attled pe fayrest;
And he unkyndely as a karle kydde a reward. 208
He se3 no3t bot hymself how semly he were,
Bot his Soverayn he forsoke, and sade pyse wordez :
‘I schal telde up my trone in pe tramountayne,
And by lyke to pat Lorde pat pe lyft made.’ 212
With pis worde pat he warp, pe wrake on hym ly3t,
Dry3tyn wyth his dere dom hym drof to pe abyme,
In pe mesure of his mode, his metz never pe lasse;
Bot per he tynt pe type dool of his tour ryche. 216
Pa3 pe feloun were so fers for his fayre wedez [ 64 a]
And his glorious glem pat glent so bry3t,
As sone as Dry3tynez dome drof to hymselven,
201 MS., M. weng. — 203 MS. J>ewe3 ; M. )>ewes.— 208 MS., M.
areward; NED. a reward. — 21 1 MS., M . 1 tramountayne, M 2 tra
mountayne. — 215 MS., M., G. met3J B. meth (see note).
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Purity
ii
E>ikke J)owsandez J>ro J>rwen Reroute, 220
Fellen fro fyrmament fendez ful blake,
[S]weved at J>e fyrst swap as snaw J>ikke,
Hurled into helle-hole as l>e hyve swarmez.
Fy[lt]er fenden folk forty dayez lencj>e, 224
Er J>at styngande storme stynt ne my3t;
Bot as smylt mele under smal sive smokez for^ikke,
So fro heven to helle J)at hatel schor laste,
On uche syde of J>e worlde aywhere ilyche. 228
Pis hit watz a brem brest and a byge wrache;
And 3et wrathed not \>e Wys , ne J>e wrech sa3tled,
Ne never wolde for wyl[fulnes] his worJ)y God
knawe,
Ne pray hym for no pite, so proud watz his wylle. 232
ForJ>y f>a3 \>e rape were rank, J>e rawj>e watz lyttel;
t>a3 he be kest into kare, he kepes no better.
Bot f>at oJ)er wrake t>at wex, on wy3ez hit ly3t
Purs l>e faut of a freke J)at fayled in traw^e, 236
Adam inobedyent, ordaynt to blysse,
Per pryvely in paradys his place watz devised,
To lyve \>er in lykyng \>e len^e of a terme,
And l>enne enherite J)at home f>at aungelez forgart; 240
220 M. 1 Thikke; M .* [J>i]kke, but the ]> and i are both distin-
guishable , the i very plainly in the offset; many of the words
beginning the lines of this fol. are hardly decipherable, and some are
partly ‘offset’ on the opposite page ( see Introd., p. viii). — 222
MS, (?), M, weued; M, note wened (?) ; Ft. ( p . 46) sweyed; G.
reads sweued, saying that the first letter, though blurred, can still
be read. I cannot see this s. — 224 MS. fy..er; M. 1 fylter; M. 2
fyltyr, but -er fairly plain and confirmed by offset, It very indistinct;
E. fylter [ed]. — 225 er, r blurred, but clear in offset. — 226 bot
blurred, but confirmed by offset: MS. smoke3; M. smokes. — 228
MS., M. worlde; Sch. erj>e for allit. (but see note). — 229 MS., M.
J>is, upper part of J> indistinct in MS.; M. note 3is(?) adopted by
Fi. — 230 G. suggests wroth. — 231 MS., M. wylnesful; Gollancz
(Athen. 1894. 2. 646 ), Fi. wilfulnes. — 233 MS. lyttlel — 237 MS.
M. in obedyent; M. note obedience ( ?), accepted by Fi.; but M.
in notes in-obedyent( ?), so Sk.
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12
Purity
Bot t>ur3 J>e eggyng of Eve he ete of an apple
Pat enpoysened alle peplez [>at parted fro hem bo£>e,
For a defence J>at watz dy3t of Dry3tyn selven,
And a payne ]>eron put and pertly halden. 244
f»e defence watz J>e fryt ]>at {>e freke towched,
And f»e dom is ]>e def»e J>at drepez uus alle.
A 1 in mesure and me]>e watz mad J>e veng[a]unce,
And efte amended wyth a mayden J>at make had never. 248
IV. God’s Warning to Noah
Bot in t>e ]>ryd watz for]>rast al £>at J>ryve schuld:
Per watz malys mercyles and mawgre much scheued,
Pat watz for fyll>e upon folde J)at ]>e folk used,
Pat J>en wonyed in })e worlde wythouten any may-
sterz.
Hit wern J>e fayrest of forme and of face als,
Pe most and ]>e myriest J>at maked wern ever,
Pe styfest, J>e stalworJ)est ]>at stod ever on fete,
And lengest lyf in hem lent of ledez alle oJ>er ;
For hit was ]>e forme-foster J>at ]>e folde bred,
Pe a]>el aunceterez sunez Jjat Adam watz called,
To wham God hade geven alle f>at gayn were,
Alle J>e blysse boute blame [>at bodi my3t have.
And t>ose lykkest to [>e lede ]>at lyved next after;
245 MS. towched retraced like the rest of the last words in ll
bysecond hand (see Introd., pp. mii-ix). — 247 MS. ( second
hand), M. vengiaunce ; the crowding of the second stroke of u
before c, and the extension of the line over u (abbrev. for n) seem
to show that the corrector has made iau out of the scribe’s original
au, cf. scribe's spelling in other instances , 744, 1013; Pat. 284.
248 MS. (. second hand), M 1 . had; W. hade— 252 M. [J>]at, but j,
seems to me as legible as initial )> in two lines preceding, all extremely
faint. 257 MS. if or, the r resembles a modern x, and is unlike
e ' tber °J th * “rise's r’s (cf. broker, 924, and see Introd., p. ix) ;
MS., M., Sk. forme-foster; M. note, Fi. forme- fosterez. — 261
MS., M., Sk. lede; M. in notes ledes(?), accepted by Fi.
252
[ 64 b]
256
260
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Purity
i3
Forty so semly to see syten wern none.
Per watz no law to hem layd bot loke to kynde,
And kepe to hit, and alle hit cors clanly fulfylle. 264
And tenne founden tay fytye in fleschlych dedez,
And controeved agayn kynde contrare werkez,
And used hem unj>ryftyly uch on on oter,
And als with oter, wylsfully, upon a wrange wyse. 268
So ferly fowled her flesch tat t e fende loked
How de3ter of te doute wern derelych fayre,
And fallen in fela3schyp wyth hem on folken wyse,
And engendered on hem jeauntez wyth her japez ille. 272
Pose wern men metelez and ma3ty on urte,
Pat for her lodlych laykez alosed tay were.
He watz famed for fre tat fe3t loved best,
And ay t e bigest in bale t e best watz halden. 276
And tenne evelez on erte ernestly grewen,
And multyplyed monyfolde inmongez mankynde;
For tat te ma3ty on molde so mar re t^ se °t er >
Pat te \Vy3e tat al wro3t ful wrotly bygynnez. 280
When he knew uche contre coruppte in hitselven,
And uch freke forloyned fro te ry3t wayez,
Felle temptande tene towched his hert;
As wy3e, wo hym withinne werp to hymselven: 284
‘Me fortynkez ful much tat ever I mon made,
Bot I schal delyver and do away tat doten on t* s
molde,
And fleme out of t e folde al t a t flesch werez,
Fro t e burne to t e best, fro bryddez to fyschez ; 288
Al schal doun and be ded and dryven out of erte [ 65 a]
Pat ever I sette saule inne, and sore hit me rwez
Pat ever I made hem myself ; bot if I may herafter,
I schal wayte to be war her wrenchez to kepe/ 292
Penne in worlde watz a wy3e wonyande on lyve,
269 MS., M. fende; Sk., E. fende[z]. — 275 MS., M., Sk. famed;
M . note fained(?). — 279 MS., M . marre; Sk. marre[d]. — 281 MS.
coruppte; M., Sk. corupte.
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Purity
Ful redy and ful ry3twys, and rewled hym fayre;
In t>e drede of Dry3tyn his dayez he usez,
And ay glydande wyth his God his grace watz
more. 296
Hym watz J>e nome Noe, as is innoghe knawen;
He had J)re l>ryven sunez, and t>ay t>re wyvez,
Sem sol>ly £>at on, J)at o£>er hy3t Cam,
And f>e jolef Japheth watz gendered t>e J>ryd. 300
Now God in nwy to Noe con speke
Wylde wrakful wordez in his wylle greved:
‘Pe ende of alle-kynez flesch J>at on urj>e mevez,
Is fallen forJ> wyth my face, and former hit I £>enk. 304
Wyth her unwor^elych werk me wlatez wythinne,
Pe gore J>erof me hatz greved and f>e glette nwyed;
I schal strenkle my distresse, and strye al togeder,
BoJ)e ledez and londe and alle f>at lyf habbez. 308
Bot make to f>e a mancioun, and f>at is my wylle,
A cof er closed of tres, clanlych planed ;
Wyrk wonez f>erinne for wylde and for tame,
And t>enne cleme hit wyth clay comly wythin[n]e. 312
And alle endentur dryven daube wythouten.
And f>us of len})e and of large J>at lome f>ou make:
I^re hundred of cupydez J>ou holde to f>e lenf>e,
Of fyfty fayre overJ)wert forme \>e brede; 316
And loke even J)at J)yn ark have of he3f>e J)rette,
And a wyndow wyd upon, wro3t upon lofte,
In f>e compas of a cubit kyndely sware,
A wel dutande dor don on J>e syde; 320
Haf hallez J)erinne and halkez ful mony,
BoJ>e boskez and bourez and wel bounden penez.
For I schal waken up a water to wasch alle J>e worlde,
And quelle alle J)at is quik wyth quavende flodez ; 324
312 MS. w^me. — 322 MS. bourez ( see Introd., p. x, n. 3). — 322
MS. boJ>e, but e peculiar, as though corrected from o: boskez
retraced by second hand, as also parts of -ll. 324-5 {see Introd., p. ix).
Digitized by Google
Purity
*5
Alle t>at glydez and gotz and gost of lyf habbez, [ 65 b]
I schal wast with my wrath, J)at wons upon urj)e.
Bot my forwarde wyth J>e I festen on l>is wyse,
For [>ou in reysoun hatz rengned and ry3twys ben
ever : 3 2 ^
Pou schal enter J)is ark wyth J)yn aj)el barnez
And [>y wedded wyf ; with J>e \>on take
Pe makez of J)y myry sunez ; J>is meyny of a3te
I schal save of monnez saulez, and swelt J>ose oper. 332
Of uche best J)at berez lyf busk J>e a cupple ;
Of uche clene comly kynde enclose seven makez,
Of uche horwed in ark halde bot a payre,
For to save me pe sede of alle ser kyndez ; 336
And ay pou meng wyth pe malez pe mete ho-bestez,
Uche payre by payre to plese ayper oper;
Wyth alle pe fode pat may be founde, frette py cofer,
For sustnaunce to yowself and also pose oper/ 340
Ful graypely gotz pis god man and dos Godez hestes,
In dry3 dred and daunger, pat durst do non oper.
Wen hit watz fettled and forged and to pe fulle
grayed,
Penn con Dry3ttyn hym dele dry3ly pyse wordez. 344
V. The Flood
‘Now, Noe/ quod oure Lorde, ‘art pou al redy?
Hatz pou closed py kyst wyth clay alle aboute?’
Ԥe, Lorde, wyth py leve/ sayde pe lede penne,
‘Al is wro3t at pi worde, as pou me wyt lantez/ 348
‘Enter in, penn/ quod he, ‘and haf pi wyf wyth pe,
Py pre sunez, wythouten prep, and her pre wyvez ;
Bestez, as I bedene have, bosk perinne als,
And when 3e arn staued styfly, stekez yow perinne. 352
Fro seven dayez ben seyed I sende out bylyve
Such a rowtande ryge pat rayne schal swype,
324 MS. J>at J>at, with a line drawn through second pat; M . 1 pat
pat ; M .* pat.
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Purity
Pat schal wasch alle J>e worlde of werkez of f ylf>e ;
Schal no flesch upon folde by fonden on lyve, 356
Outtaken yow a3t in J>is ark staued,
And sed J>at I wyl save of t>yse ser bestez.*
[No]w Noe never sty[n]tez — J>at [n]y3 [t] he by-
gynnez —
Er al wer stawed and stoken as t>e steven wolde. 360
Thenne sone com J>e seven^e day when samned wern
alle, [66a]
And alle woned in J>e whichche, \>e wylde and \>t tame.
Pen bolned ]>e abyme, and bonkez con ryse,
Waites out uch w[e]lle-heved in ful wode stremez, 364
Watz no brymme ])at abod unbrosten bylyve;
Pe mukel lavande loghe to t>e lyfte rered.
Mony clustered clowde clef alle in clowtez,
Torent uch a rayn-ryfte and rusched to J>e ur£>e, 368
Fon never in forty dayez ; and J)en f>e flod ryses,
Overwaltez uche a wod and ]>e wyde feldez.
For when J>e water of |)e welkyn wyth J>e worlde
mette,
Alle {rat deth mo3t dry3e drowned ])erinne. 372
Per watz moon for to make when meschef was
cnowen,
Pat no3t dowed bot J)e deth in ]>e depe stremez.
Water wylger ay wax, wonez J>at stryede,
Hurled into uch hous, hent ]>at \>er dowelled. 376
Fyrst feng to ]>e fly3t alle J>at fle my3t,
Uuche burde wyth her bame J>e byggyng J>ay levez,
And bowed to \>e hy3 bonk J>er brentest hit wer[e],
And heterly to \>e \1y3e hyllez t>ay aled on faste. 380
359 now, but I cannot distinguish first two letters, which are
very blurred: MS., M. stystez, M . note styntez(?), accepted by
Fi.: MS. my3, M., Sk. niy3[t], — 360 er al very faint. — 365 MS.,
M., Sk. walle ( but cf. 428). — 376 MS., M. dowelled; Sk. dwelled.
— 379 MS., M. wern; Sk. emends to were; B. would read bonkes.
380 MS., M. 1 aled; M. 2 , Sk. [h]aled, but consistency in this respect
would necessitate many more emendations.
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Purity 1 7
Bot al watz nedlez her note, for never covr\>z stynt
Pe ro3e raynande ryg, \>e raykande wawez,
Er uch boJ>om watz brurdful to J)e bonkez eggez,
And uche a dale so depe J>at demmed at f>e brynkez. 384
Pe moste mountaynez on mor J>enne watz no more
dry3e,
And J>eron flokked J)e folke, for ferde of l>e wrake.
Syt>en f>e wylde of J>e wode on J)e water flette ;
Summe swymmed f>eron £>at save hemself trawed, 388
Summe sty3e to a stud and stared to £>e heven,
Rwly wyth a loud rurd rored for drede.
Harez, herttez also, to t>e hy3e runnen,
Bukkez, bausenez, and bulez to t>e bonkkez hy3ed; 392
And alle cryed for care to f>e Kyng of heven,
Recoverer of f>e Creator J)ay cryed uch one,
Pat amounted t>e mase— his mercy watz passed,
And alle his pyte departed fro peple J>at he hated. 396
Bi J>at J>e flod to her fete flo3ed and waxed, [66b]
Pen uche a segge se3 wel f>at synk hym byhoved ;
Frendez fellen in fere and farmed togeder,
To dry3 her delf ul deystyne and dy3en alle samen ; 400
Luf lokez to luf and his leve takez,
For to ende alle at onez and for ever twynne.
By forty dayez wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed,
Pat f>e flod nade al f reten wyth f e3tande wa3ez ; 404
For hit clam uche a clyffe cubites fyftene,
Over J>e hy3est hylle J)at hurkled on erj)e.
Penne morkne in J>e mudde most ful nede
Alle J>a-t spyrakle inspranc, no sprawlyng awayled, 408
Save t>e haj>el under hach and his here straunge,
Noe J>at ofte nevened J>e name of oure Lorde,
382 M. unnecessarily inserts & after ryg; if any word is omitted,
it would more probably be ne. — 395 MS., M. J>e masse J>e mase;
Sk. J>e mase. — 401 MS. to, letters curiously combined, o perhaps
by another hand. — 404 MS., M., Sk. wa3ez, M. note wawez (?). —
408 MS., M., Sk. inspranc; M. note insprang(P).
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Purity
Hym a3tsum in J>at ark as a]>el God lyked,
Per alle ledez in lome lenged druye. 4 12
Pe arc hoven watz on hy3e wyth hurlande gotez,
Kest to kythez uncou^e \>e clowdez ful nere.
Hit waltered on J>e wylde flod, went as hit lyste,
Drof upon J>e depe dam, in daunger hit semed, 416
Withouten mast, oJ)er myke, oJ)er myry bawelyne,
Kable oJ)er capstan to clyppe to her ankrez,
Hurrok oJ>er hande-helme hasped on ro^er,
OJ)er any sweande sayl to seche after haven, 420
Bot flote forthe wyth \>e flyt of J>e felle wyndez.
Whederwarde so t>e water wafte, hit rebounde;
Of te hit roled on rounde and rered on ende ;
Nyf oure Lorde hade ben her lodezmon, hem had
lumpen harde. 424
Of t>e lenl>e of Noe lyf to lay a lei date,
Pe sex hundreth of his age and none odde 3erez,
Of secounde monyth, J)e seven})e day ry3tez,
Towalten alle f>yse welle-hedez and J>e water flowed; 428
And t>ryez fyfty J)e flod of folwande dayez,
Uche hille watz \>er hidde wyth y[t>]ez ful graye.
A 1 watz wasted t>at J>er wonyed t>e worlde wythinne,
Per ever flote, oJ)er flwe, ot>er on fote 3ede, 432
That ro3ly watz t>e remnaunt J>at J)e rac dryvez, [ 67 a]
Pat alle gendrez. so joyst wern joyned wythinne.
Bot quen f>e Lorde of J)e lyfte lyked hymselven
For to mynne on his mon his meth l>at abydez, 436
Pen he wakened a wynde on watterez to blowe;
Penne lasned ]>e llak f>at large watz are.
Pen he stac up J>e stangez, stoped t>e wellez,
Bed blynne of J>e rayn, hit batede as fast; 440
421 MS ., M., Sk. flote, E. flote [d].— 422 MS., M., Sk. rebounde;
Fi. rebounded. — 430 MS., M. yre3 ; M. note yl>ez(?); so Sk.,
Fi . — 431 wasted perhaps partly retraced {see Introd., p. ix ). — 432
on inserted above line {see Introd., p. ix, n. 2 ). — 433 at end of
preceding page J>at ro3ly watz as catchwords: Sk. note rwly(?).
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Purity
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Penne lasned J>e I03 lowkande togeder.
After harde dayez wern out on hundreth and fyfte,
As f>at lyftande lome luged aboute
Where f>e wynde and J>e weder warpen hit wolde, 444
Hit sa3tled on a softe day synkande to grounde;
On a rasse of a rok, hit rest at J>e laste,
On J>e mounte of Mararach of Armene hilles,
Pat ot>erwayez on Ebru hit hat t>e Thanes. 448
Bot J>a3 f>e kyste in \>e cragez wer[e] closed to byde,
Set fyned not t>e flod, ne f el to J>e boj^emez ;
Bot £>e hy3est of eggez unhuled wern a lyttel,
Pat |>e bume bynne borde byhelde f>e bare erj>e. 452
Penne wafte he upon his wyndowe, and wysed
Reroute
A message fro l>at meyny hem moldez to seche:
Pat watz J)e raven so ronk, Jmt rebel watz ever ;
He watz colored as t>e cole, corbyal untrwe. 456
And he fongez to l>e fly3t and fannez on J)e wyndez,
H[o]vez hy3e upon hy3t to herken tyj)yngez.
He croukez for comfort when carayne he fyndez
Kast up on a clyffe J>er costese lay drye; 460
He hade J>e smelle of l>e smach and smoltes J>eder sone,
Fallez on f>e foule flesch and fyllez his wombe,
And sone 3ederly for3ete 3isterday steven,
How J>e chevetayn hym charged J)at f>e kyst 3emed. 464
Pe raven raykez hym forth, f>at reches ful lyttel
How alle fodez J>er fare ? ellez he fynde mete;
449 MS., wern; Sk. wer[e] ; Schwahn ( p . 26) wer enclosed,
but cf. 379. — 451 MS., M. wern; Sk. were. — 452 M. 1 lorde, M. 2
borde, cf. 467 . — 456 MS., M., Sk. corbyal ; G. and E. suggest corby
al. — 458 M., Sk. hove3, but second letter blurred, perhaps second
stroke of o omitted : MS. tyj>ynge3; M. tyj>ynges. — 461 MS., M.
smoltej; Sk. smolte, following M.’s suggestion in Glossary. — 464
MS., M., Sk. kyst; Fi. (p. 42) and Sch. (p. 169 ) would read chyst
for alliteration, but elsewhere form always kyst ( see Glossary and
Introd., p. Ivii, n. 2).
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Purity
Bot }>e burne bynne borde l>at bod to hys come,
Banned hym ful bytterly wyth bestes alle samen. 468
He sechez anoJ)er sondezmon and settez on J>e
dou[v]e, [ 67 b]
Bryngez ]>at bry3t upon borde blessed, and sayde:
‘Wende, wor^elych wy3t, uus wonez to seche,
Dryf over J>is dymme water; if J>ou druye fyndez, 472
Bryng bodworde to bot blysse to uus alle;
Pa3 J)at fowle be false, fre be J>ou ever/
Ho wyrle out on f>e weder on wyngez ful scharpe,
Dre3ly alle alonge day J)at dorst never ly3t ; 476
And when ho fyndez no folde her fote on to pyche,
Ho umbekestez J>e coste and J>e kyst sechez;
Ho hittez on \>e eventyde and on J>e ark sittez,
Noe nymmes hir anon and naytly hir stauez. 480
Noe on anof>er day nymmez efte J>e do[wv]e,
And byddez hir bo we over J>e borne efte bonkez to
seche ;
And ho skyrmez under skwe and skowtez aboute,
Tyl hit watz ny3e at f>e na3t, and Noe f>en sechez. 484
VI. The Departure from the Ark
On ark on an eventyde hovez J>e dowve,
On stamyn ho stod and stylle hym abydez.
What ! ho bro3t in hir beke a bronch of olyve,
Gracyously umbegrouen al wyth grene levez; 488
f>at watz J>e syngne of savyte £>at sende hem oure
Lorde,
And f>e sa3tlyng of hymself wyth \>o sely bestez.
Pen watz J>er joy in J>at gyn where jumpred er dry3ed,
467 M , x lorde; M Sk. borde, noting that MS. reads lorde;
perhaps MS. intended for lorde; cf. 452 and Introd., p. x . — 469
MS., M., Sk. doune; M. note douue or douene(?); Sk. note ‘for
douene’; K. (p. 54) douue; cf. note on this line/ and 481 , 485 . —
481 MS. doveue or dovene; M., Sk. dovene, cf. 469, 485. — 485 M.,
Sk. downe; K. (p. 54) dowue.
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And much comfort in t>at cofer J>at watz clay-daubed. 49 2
Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth J>e fyrst,
Pat fallez formast in J>e 3er, and t>e fyrst day,
Ledez lo3en in J>at lome, and loked Reroute
How J>at watterez wern woned and t>e worlde dryed. 496
Uch on loved oure Lorde, bot lenged ay stylle,
Tyl J>ay had tyj>yng fro J>e Tolke l>at tyned hem
J>erinne.
Pen Godez glam to hem glod l>at gladed hem alle,
Bede hem drawe to t>e dor, delyver hem he wolde. 500
Pen went J)ay to \>e wykket, hit wait upon sone,
BoJ>e J>e burne and his barnez bowed Reroute,
Her wyvez walkez hem wyth, and J>e wylde after,
Proly f>rublande in t>ronge, }>rowen ful [>ykke. 504
Bot Noe of uche honest kynde nem out an odde, [68a]
And hevened up an auter and hal3ed hit fayre,
And sette a sakerfyse f>eron of uch a ser kynde
Pat watz comly and clene — God kepez non o[>er. 5°^
When bremly brened J>ose bestez, and ]>e bre]>e rysed,
Pe savor of his sacrafyse so3t to hym even
Pat al spedez and spyllez ; he spekes wyth £at ilke
In comly comfort ful clos and cortays wordez: 5 12
‘Now, Noe, no more nel I never wary
Alle [)e mukel mayny [on] molde for no mannez
synnez,
For I se wel ]>at hit is sothe, t>at alle mannez wyttez
To uil^ryfte arn alle J>rawen wyth J)03t of her herttez, 516
And ay hatz ben, and wyl be 3et, fro her barnage ;
Al is ]>e mynde of £>e man to malyce enclyned ;
For£>y schal I never schende so schortly at ones
As dysstrye al for manez [dedes], dayez of f>is er[>e. 5 20
Bot waxez now and wendez forth and wordez to
monye,
501 MS., M . wait; M. a in notes wafte(?). — 514 M., Sk. insert
on. — 520 MS. synne inserted above line after manez ; M., Sk. synne ;
M., Sk . insert in before dayez.
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Purity
Multyplyez on J>is molde, and menske yow bytyde.
Sesounez schal yow never sese of sede ne of hervest,
Ne hete, ne no harde forst, umbre ne dro3t>e, 524
Ne J>e swetnesse of somer, ne t>e sadde wynter,
Ne J>e ny3t, ne J)e day, ne t>e newe 3erez,
Bot ever renne restlez — rengnez 3e ^erinne!’
Perwyth he blessez uch a best, and byta3t hem J>is
erj>e. 528
Pen watz a skylly skyvalde, quen scaped alle J>e
wylde :
Uche fowle to J>e fly3t J>at fyj)erez my3t serve,
Uche fysch to J)e flod J>at fynne couJ)e nayte,
Uche beste to f>e bent J)at bytes on erbez; 532
Wylde wormez to her won wryj)ez in f>e erf>e,
Pe fox and [>e folmarde to J>e fryth wyndez,
Herttes to hy3e he})e, harez to gorstez,
And lyounez and lebardez to f>e lake-ryftes; 536
Hernez and havekez to \>e hy$e rochez,
Pe hole-foted fowle to \>e flod hy3ez,
And uche best at a brayde J)er hym best lykez.
Pe fowre frekez of \>e folde fongez f>e empyre. 540
Lo ! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsum dedez [68b]
Parformed J>e hy3e Fader on folke f>at he made;
Pat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful hard[e],
In devoydynge f>e vylanye t>at venkquyst his J>ewez. 544
Forf>y war t>e now, wy3e f>at worschyp desyres
In his comlych corte l>at Kyng is of blysse,
In fylj>e of f>e flesch J>at J>ou be founden never,
Tyl any water in \>e worlde to wasche \>e fayly. 548
For is no segge under sunne so seme of his craftez,
If he be sulped in synne, £at syttez unclene —
On spec of a spote may spede to mysse
Of J>e sy3te of ]?e Soverayn J>at syttez so hy3e; 552
527 MS., M . 1 rengne33e; M. 2 , Sk. rengne3 3e. — 532 MS., M . 1
J>at pat ; M. 2 , Sk. J>at. — 543 MS., M. hardee; Sk. harde. — 550
M . 2 inserts ne after J>at.
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Purity
23
For t>at schewe me schale in \>o schyre howsez,
As J>e beryl bomyst byhovez be clene,
Pat is sounde on uche a syde and no sem habes,
Wythouten maskle oJ>er mote as margerye-perle. 55^
VII. A Warning of God’s Wrath against Sinners
Syt>en f>e Soverayn in sete so sore forJ)03t
Pat ever he man upon molde merked to lyvy;
For he in fylj)e watz fallen, felly he venged,
Quen forferde alle J>e flesch J>at he formed hade. 560
Hym rwed J)at he hem uprerde and ra3t hem lyflode,
And efte ]>at he hem undyd, hard hit hym J>03t ;
For quen swemande sor3e so3t to his hert,
He knyt a covenaunde cortaysly wyth monkynde J>ere, 564
In f>e mesure of his mode and rnejje of his wylle,
Pat he schulde never, for no syt, smyte al at onez,
As to quelle alle quykez for qued J)at my3t falle,
Whyl of J>e lenj)e of J)e londe lastez J)e terme. 568
Pat ilke skyl for no scaj)e ascaped hym never.
Wheder wonderly he wrak on wykked men after:
Ful felly for J>at ilk faute forferde a kyth ryche,
In J>e anger of his ire J)at ar3ed mony ; 572
And al watz for J>is ilk evel, J>at unhappen glette,
Pe venym and J)e vylanye and \>e vycios fylj>e
Pat bysulpez mannez saule in unsounde hert,
Pat he his Saveour ne see wyth sy3t of his y3en, 576
Pat alle illez he hates as helle J>at stynkkez; [ 69 a]
Bot non nuyez hym, on na3t ne never upon dayez,
As harlottrye unhonest, he^yng of selven;
Pat schamez for no schrewedschyp schent mot he
wor]>e ! 580
Bot sa[v]or, mon, in Myself, J>a3 J)ou a sotte lyvie,
553 MS ., M. me; Fi. we. — 560 forferde abbrev . in MS. ( see
Introd., p. x, n. 3 ); M. fo#rferde, note forferde(?). — 581 MS.
sauyo ; M. sauyo ur.
Digitized by L^ooQle
*4
Purity
Pa3 t>ou bere J>yself babel, byl>enk J>e sumtyme
Whejier he J)at stykked uche a stare in uche steppe
y 3 e >
§if hymself be bore blynde, hit is a brod wonder ; 584
And he t>at fetly in face fettled alle eres,
If he hatz losed J)e lysten hit lyftez mervayle;
Traue ]>ou never £>at tale, untrwe J)ou hit fyndez.
Per is no dede so derne J>at dittez his y3en; 588
Per is no wy3e in his werk so war ne so stylle
Pat hit ne Jirawez to hym |>ro er he hit Jx>3t have.
For he is J>e gropande God, f>e grounde of alle dedez,
Rypande of uche a ring \>e reynyez and hert ; 592
And J>ere he fyndez al fayre a freke wythinne,
Pat hert honest and hoi, f>at hat>el he honorez,
Sendez hym a sad sy3t to se his auen face,
And harde honysez J>ise oJ>er, and of his erde flemez. 596
Bot of J)e dome of J>e douJ>e for dedez of schame —
He is so skoymos of J)at skaj>e, he scarrez bylyve;
He may not dry3e to draw allyt, bot drepez in hast,
And t>at watz schewed schortly by a scaj>e onez. 600
VIII. Abraham Entertains the Three Angels
Olde Abraham in erde onez he syttez
Even byfore his hous-dore, under an oke grene;
Bry3t blykked \>e bem of f>e brode heven,
In f>e hy3e hete J>erof Abraham bidez, 604
He watz schunt to l>e schadow under schyre levez.
Penne watz he war on f>e waye of wlonk wy3ez
l>rynne ;
If t>ay wer farande and fre and fayre to beholde,
584 MS. sele, as M. notes. — 586 MS., M. x he he ; M? he. — 590 in
J>ro, o of MS. has apparently been altered to e by drawing a stroke
through it, but o nevertheless unmistakable; M., who prints MS.
as }>re, suggests J>er(?), which is accepted by Fi. — 592 MS., M.
ring; M. note rink or renk(?). — 600 MS., M. scaj>e; Fi. schaj>e,
cf. K. p. 65 {but see Introd., p. Ivii, n. 2, and Glossary ).
Digitized by Google
j
Purity
*5
Hit is ej>e to leve by J>e last ende. 608
For l>e lede t>at l>er laye t>e levez anunder,
When he hade of hem sy3t, he hy3ez bylyve,
And as to God \>e good mon gos hem agaynez,
And haylsed hem in onhede, and sayde: ‘Hende
Lorde, 612
gif ever J)y mon upon molde merit disserved, [ 69 b]
Lenge a lyttel with \>y lede, I lo3ly biseche;
Passe never fro f>i povere, 3if I hit pray durst,
Er t>ou haf biden with \>i burne and under bo3e
restted; 616
And I schal wynne yow wy3t of water a lyttel,
And fast aboute schal I fare yor fette wer waschene;
Resttez here on J>is rote, and I schal rachche after
And brynge a morsel of bred to banne yor hertte/ 620
Tare forthe/ quod frekez, ‘and fech as ]>ou
seggez ;
By bole of \>is brode tre we byde f>e here/
Penne orppedly into his hous he hy3ed to Sare,
Comaunded hir to be cof and quyk at ])is onez: 624
Tre mettez of mele menge, and ma kakez,
Under askez ful hote happe hem bylive.
Quyl I fete sumqu^t fat, ]x)u J>e fyr bete,
Prestly at J>is ilke poynte sum polment to make/ 628
He cached to his cou-hous and a calf bryngez
Pat watz tender and not to3e; bed tyrve of J>e hyde,
And sayde to his servaunt J>at he hit sej>e faste,
And he dervely at his dome dy3t hit bylyve. 632
Pe burne to be bare-heved buskez hym J>enne,
Clechez to a clene cloJ)e and kestez on J>e grene,
Prwe J)ryftyly ]?eron J>o J)re J>erve kakez,
618 MS., M. wer waschene; Fi. forto waschen. — 629 MS. prob-
ably covhottj, though v is raised above o slightly, so that it very
much resembles a b ; M. cobhous, but note < cov-hous= cow-
house( ?)/
Digitized by ^ooQie
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Purity
And bryngez butter wythal, and by t>e bred settez ; 636
Mete messez of my Ike he merkkez bytwene,
Syt>en potage and polment in plater honest.
As sewer in a god assyse he served hem fayre,
Wyth sadde semblaunt and swete, of such as he hade ; 640
And God as a glad gest mad god chere,
Pat watz fayn of his frende, and his fest praysed.
Abraham, al hodlez, wyth armez upfolden,
Mynystred mete byfore \>o men {>at my3tes al weldez. 644
Penne J)ay say den, as £>ay sete samen alle Jjrynne,
When J>e mete watz remued, and J)ay of mensk speken.
*1 schal efte here away, Abram/ J>ay sayden,
‘Set er \>y lyvez ly3t le^e upon erj>e, 648
And t>enne schal Sare consayve and a sun bere, [ 70 a]
I>at schal be Abrahamez ayre, and after hym wynne
Wyth wele and wyth worschyp J>e wor])ely peple,
Pat schal halde in heritage J)at I haf men 3ark[ed]/ 652
Penne J>e burde byhynde J>e dor for busmar la3ed,
And sayde sothly to hirself Sare J)e madde:
‘May J>ou traw for tykle J)at J)ou t[em]e mo3tez,
And I so hy3e out of age, and also my lorde.’ 656
For solely, as says \>e wryt, he wern of sadde elde,
Bot>e |>e wy3e and his wyf, such werk watz hem
f ayled ;
Fro mony a brod day byfore ho barayn ay b[e]ne,
Pat selve Sare wythouten sede into J)at same tyme. 660
Penne sayde oure Syre \>er he sete : ‘Se ! so Sare la3es,
Not trawande J>e tale ]>at I {>e to schewed.
Hopez ho 03t may be harde my hondez to work?
And 3et I avow verayly {>e avaunt J>at I made, 664
I schal 3eply a3ayn and 3elde f>at I hy3t,
652 MS. 3ark; Fi. ( p . 9) reads ‘}>at I hafe me(n) 3ark[ed]/ —
654 MS., M. sothly; M. note softly or sotly(?); Fi. sotly. — 655
MS., M. tonne; E. te[m]e. — 659 MS. by ene (perhaps=e ue), M.
byene, M. 1 note bycame(?)
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Purity
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And sothely sende to Sare a soun and an hayre/
Penne swenged forth Sare and swer, by hir trawj>e,
Pat for lot t>at J>ay lansed ho la3ed never. 668
‘Now innoghe, hit is not so/ {>enne nurned J>e
Dry3tyn,
‘For Jx>u la3ed alo3, hot let we hit one.’
With {>at l>ay ros up radly, as t>ay rayke schulde,
And setten toward Sodamas her sy3t alle at onez; 672
For {>at cite {>erbysyde watz sette in a vale,
No mylez fro Mambre mo ]>en tweyne,
Where so wonyed J>is ilke wy3 J>at wendez wyth oure
Lorde,
For to tent hym wyth tale and teche hym J)e gate. 676
Pen glydez forth God ; £>e god mon hym fol3ez,
Abraham heldez hem wyth, hem to conveye
In towarde J>e cety of Sodamas f>at synned had t>enne
In faute of J>is fylj>e. Pe Fader hem J)retes, 680
And sayde ]dus to J>e s egg ]>at sued hym after:
‘How my3t I hyde myn hert fro Habraham J>e trwe,
Pat I ne dyscovered to his corse my counsayl so dere ?
SyJ>en he is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader, 684
Pat so folk schal falle fro, to flete alle t>e worlde, [ 70 b]
And uche blod in J)at burne blessed schal worJ>e,
Me bos telle to £>at tolk J>e tene of my wylle,
And alle myn atlyng to Abraham unhaspe bilyve. 688
IX. Abraham’s Plea for Lot
‘The grete soun of Sodamas synkkez in myn erez,
And t>e gult of Gomorre garez me to wrath.
I schal ly3t into }>at led and loke myselven
If J>ay haf don as J)e dyne dryvez on lofte. 692
666 M . x soun, M. 2 son, but cf . 1^99, where M. 2 prints same abbrev.
seme; perhaps it should here be considered double n as in heuen,
161. — 667 MS., M. 1 by, M 2 hy ( prob . misprint). — 668 M. lansed,
note loused (?). — 669 MS. fined, M. nwrned ( see Introd., p. x, n. 3).
— 678 Fi. for to. — 692 MS. if, cf. Pearl, 1185, and is, 1524.
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Purity
Pay han lerned a lyst t>at lykez me ille,
Pat J>ay han founden in her flesch of fautez £>e werst:
Uch male matz his mach a man as hymselven,
And fylter folyly in fere on femmalez wyse. 696
I compast hem a kynde crafte and kende hit hem
derne,
And amed hit in myn ordenaunce oddely dere,
And dy3t drwry £>erinne, doole al^erswettest,
And f>e play of paramorez I portrayed myselven; 700
And made }>erto a maner myriest of of>er,
When two true togeder had ty3ed hemselven,
Bytwene a male and his make such merj)e schulde
co[m]e,
Wei ny3e pure paradys mo3t preve no better, 704
Ellez t>ay mo3t honestly ayj)er oJ>er welde;
At a stylle stollen steven, unstered wyth sy3t,
Luf-lowe hem bytwene lasched so hote,
Pat alle J)e meschefez on mold mo3t hit not sleke. 708
Now haf t>ay skyfted my skyl and scorned natwre,
And henttez hem in he^yng an usage unclene.
Hem to smyte for J)at smod smartly I J)enk,
Pat wy3ez schal be by hem war, worlde wythouten
ende/ 712
Penne ar3ed Abraham, and alle his mod chaunge[d]
For hope of J)e harde hate J)at hy3t hatz oure Lorde.
A 1 sykande he sayde : ‘Sir, wyth yor leve,
Schal synful and saklez suffer al on payne? 716
We|>er ever hit lyke my Lorde to lyfte such domez,
Pat f>e wykked and f>e worf>y schal on wrake suffer,
And weye upon J>e worre half f>at wrathed f>e never?
Pat watz never J>y won f>at wro3tez pus alle. 720
703 MS., M. conne; M. note come(?). — 713 MS. chaunge, M.
chaungefd]. — 7 15 sir abbrev., as also at goo, 1622, M. 1 syre, M. 1
sir ; apparently the only instance of expansion in the MS. is Gaw.
387, where Gollancz prints Sir.
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Purity
Now fyfty fyn frendez wer founde in 3onde toune, [71a]
In be cety of Sodamas and also Gomorre,
Pat never lakked by laue, bot loved ay trau^e,
And re3tful wem, and resounable, and redy be to serve 724
Schal [>ay falle in be faute ]mt ober frekez wro3t,
And joyne to her juggement her juise to have?
Pat nas never J)yn note, unnevened hit worJ>e,
Pat art so gaynly a God and of goste myldeP 7 2 ®
‘Nay, for fyfty/ quod be Fader, ‘and by fayre speche,
And t>ay be founden in ]>at folk of her fyl[>e clene,
I schal forgyve alle be gylt ])ur3 my grace one,^
And let hem smolt al unsmyten smobely at onez/ 732
‘Aa ! blessed be bow/ quod b e burne, ‘so boner and
bewed,
And al haldez in by honde, be heven and \>e er])e ;
Bot for I haf \>is talke, tatz to non ille
gif I mele a lyttel more {>at mul am and askez. 73 6
What if fyve faylen of fyfty b e noumbre,
And t>e remnaunt be reken, how restes f>y wylle?’
‘And fyve wont of fyfty/ quod God, ‘I schal fo^ete
alle,
And wythhalde my honde for hortyng on lede/ 740
‘And quat if faurty be fre, and fauty [>yse oJ)er,
Schalt bow schortly al schende and schape non ober ?’
‘Nay, b a 3 faurty forfete, 3et fryst I a whyle
And voyde away my vengaunce, b a 3 me v yl by n ^- > 744
Pen Abraham obeched hym and [hy]3ly him bonkkez :
‘Now sayned be bou, Savior, so symple in by wrath !
I am bot erbe ful evel and usle so blake,
For to mele wyth such a Mayster as my3tez hatz alle ; 748
730 MS., M. &; M. note An(?), and similarly, 864, 1346 . — 739
wont inserted above line ( see Introd., p. ix, n. 2 ). — 745 MS., M. &
lo3ly him }>onkke3 ; Fi. (p. 47) reads he3ly, referring to Gaw. 7731
Sch. proposes ‘and bowe3 to him lo3ly/
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Purity
Bot I have bygonnen wyth my God, and he hit gayn
J)ynkez,
gif I, forloyne as a fol, py fraunchyse may serve.
What if J>retty J)ryvande be ]>rad in 3on tounez,
What schal I leve [o]f my Lorde, if he hem lef>e
wolde V 7 5 2
Penne t>e godlych God gef hym onsware,
‘get for pretty in J>rong I schal my pro steke,
And spare spakly of spyt, in space of my J>ewez,
And my rankor refrayne for py reken wordez/ 756
‘What for twenty/ quod pe tolke, ‘untwynez pou hem
^ernie?’ [ 71 b]
‘Nay, 3if pou 3ernez hit, 3et 3ark I hem grace ;
If t>at twenty be trwe, I tene hem no more,
Bot relece alle |>at regioun of her ronk werkkez/ 760
‘Now, apel lorde/ quod Abraham, ‘onez a speche,
And I schal schape no more po schalkkez to helpe.
If ten trysty in toune be tan in pi werkkez,
Wylt pou mese py mode, and menddyng abyde?’ 764
‘I graunt/ quod pe grete God, ‘graunt mercy/ J>at
o])er,
And t>enne arest pe renk, and ra3t no fyrre.
And Godde glydez his gate ( by pose grene wayez,
And he conveyen hym con wyth cast of his y3e; 768
And as he loked along peve as oure Lorde passed,
get he cryed hym after wyth careful steven :
‘Meke Mayster, on py mon to mynne if pe lyked,
Loth lengez in 3on leede J>at is my lef broker, 772
He syttez per in Sodomis, py servaunt so povere,
Among po mansed men J>at han pe much greved.
gif pou tynez £>at toun, tempre pyn yre,
As py mersy may malte l>y meke to spare/ 776
£en he wendez his way, wepande for care,
752 MS., M. if my; M / note of(?), which E. accepts. — 769 M.
als, but scribe has written s directly over 1 . — 777 MS., M. wende3
wend©3.
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3 1
Towarde J>e mere of Mambre, [mornjande for
so[r3e],
And J>ere in longyng al ny3t he lengez in wones,
Whyl f>e Soverayn to Sodamas sende to spye. 780
X. Lot Entertains the Two Angels
His sondes into Sodamas watz sende in J>at tyme,
In {>at ilk eventyde, by aungels tweyne,
Mevande mekely togeder as myry men 3onge,
As Loot in a loge-dor lened hym alone, 784
In a porche of t>at place py3t to \>e 3ates,
Pat watz ryal and ryche — so watz \>e renkes selven.
As he stared into J)e strete t>er stout men played,
He sy3e J>er swey iij asent swete men tweyne ; 788
Bolde burnez were J)ay bo]?e, wyth berdles chynnez,
Royl rollande fax, to raw sylk lyke,
Of ble as t>e brere-flor where so ]?e bare schew[e]d;
Ful clene watz J>e countenaunce of her cler y3en; 792
Wlonk whit watz her wede and wel hit hem semed. [72a]
Of alle feturez ful fyn and fautlez boJ>e,
Watz non au[c]ly in out>er, for aungels hit wern.
And t>at J)e 3ep under3ede t>at in J>e 3ate syttez, 796
He ros up ful radly and ran hem to mete,
And lo3e he loutez hem to, Loth, to grounde,
And syj>en soberly: ‘Syrez, I yow byseche,
Pat 3e wolde ly3t at my loge and lenge Jierinne ; 800
Comez to yor knavez kote, I crave at J>is onez;
778 MS., M. wepande; Sch . suggests mourninge: M , l sorewe,
M . 2 so[r3e] with note ‘sorewe is written by a late hand over the
original word / (see Introd., p. viii, and also note on this line ). — 783
MS., M. meuand, meuande. — 785 in place the second stroke of the
p covers an extra 1 . — 791 MS., M. scheweed. — 795 MS., M. autly,
G. reads MS. aucly ( but see note ). — 799 M. inserts sat3 ( form
would probably be sayt3) after soberly. — 801 MS. knaue3 kote;
M. 1 kuchie3-kote ( which MS. resembles because second stroke of a
is high) ; M? knaues kote.
Digitized by L^OOQle
3 2
Purity
I schal fette yow a fatte yor fette forto wasche.
I norne yow bot for on ny3t ne3e me to lenge,
And in pe myry mornyng 3e may yor waye take.’ 804
And pay nay pat pay nolde ne3 no howsez,
Bot stylly per in pe strete as pay stadde wern,
Pay wolde lenge pe long na3t and logge peroute ;
Hit watz hous inno3e to hem pe heven upon lofte. 808
Loth laped so longe wyth luflych wordez
Pat pay hym graunted to go, and gru3t no lenger.
Pe bolde to his byggyng bryngez hem bylyve,
Pat [watz] ryally arayed, for he watz ryche ever. 812
Pe wy3ez wern welcom as pe wyf coupe;
His two dere do3terez devoutly hem haylsed,
Pat wer maydenez ful meke, maryed not 3et,
And pay wer semly and swete, and swype wel arayed. 816
Loth penne ful ly3tly lokez hym aboute,
And his men amonestes mete for to dy3t :
‘Bot penkkez on hit be prefte, what pynk so 3e make,
For wyth no sour ne no salt servez hym never/ 820
Bot 3et I wene pat pe wyf hit wroth to dyspyt,
And sayde softely to hirself : ‘Pis un[s]avere hyne
Lovez no salt in her sauce ; 3et hit no skyl were
Pat oper burne be boute, pa3 bope be nyse/ 824
Penne ho saverez wyth salt her seuez uch one,
Agayne pe bone of pe burne pat hit forboden hade,
And als ho scelt hem in scorne pat wel her skyl
knewen.
Why watz ho, wrech, so wod? Ho wrathed oure
Lorde. 828
Penne seten pay at pe soper, wern served bylyve, [ 72 b]
Pe gestes gay and ful glad, of glam debonere,
Welawynnely wlonk tyl pay waschen hade,
812 MS. J>at ryally arayed; M. inserts watz after ryally. — 819
MS., M. ]>ynk; M. note ]>yng(?). — 820 MS. M., Fi. sour; M. note
savo «r(?). — 821 MS., M. wroth; M. note wro3t(?); Fi. wro3te.
— 822 MS. vnfa were ; M. corrects to vnsa were.
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f>e trestes tylt to J)e wo3e and l>e table bo\>e. 832
Fro l>e seggez haden souped and seten bot a whyle,
Er ever l>ay bosked to bedde, £e bor3 watz al up,
Alle J>at weppen my3t welde, J>e wakker and l> e
stronger,
To umbely3e Lothez hous ledez to take. 830
In grete flokkez of folk J)ay fallen to his 3atez ;
As a scowte-wach scarred, so J>e asscry rysed;
Wyth kene clobbez of l>at clos t>ay clatz on l>e wowez,
And wyth a schrylle scharp schout fcay schewe fcyse
worde : ^ 4 °
Tf J)ou lovyez \>y lyf, Loth, in J>yse wones,
§ete uus out J)ose 3ong men ]?at 3ore-whyle here
entred,
Pat we may lere hym of lof, as oure lyst biddez,
As is \>e asyse of Sodomas to seggez fcat passen.’ 844
Whatt! J>ay sputen and speken of so spitous fylfce,
What ! {>ay 3e3ed and 3olped of 3estande sor3e,
Pat 3et t>e wynd, and t>e weder, and J>e worlde stynkes
Of t>e brych J>at upbraydez J>ose bro^elych wordez. 848
Pe god man glyfte wyth J>at glam and gloped for
noyse ;
So scharpe schame to hym schot, he schrank at J)e hert,
For he knew £>e costoum J)at kyj>ed l>ose wrechez,
He doted never for no doel so depe in his mynde. 852
‘Allas !’ sayd hym J)enne Loth, and ly3tly he rysez,
And bowez forth fro £>e bench into \>e brode 3ates.
What! he wonded no wo£>e of wekked knavez,
Pat he ne passed t>e port |>e p [er] il to abide. 856
He went forthe at J>e wyket and waft hit hym after,
Pat a clyket hit cle3t clos hym byhynde.
Penne he meled to \>o men mesurable wordez,
For harlotez wyth .his hendelayk he hoped to chast: 860
840 MS., M. worde; Fi . worde3. — 841 MS. wones; M. wone3.
— 843 MS., M. hym; M. note hem(?), which Fi. accepts. — 856
MS. pil; M. peril.
Digitized by Google
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Purity
‘Oo, my frendez so fre, yor fare is to strange;
Dotz away yor derf dyn, and derez never my gestes.
Avoy ! hit is yor vylaynye, 3e vylen yorselven ;
And 3e ar jolyf gentylmen, yor japez ar ille. 864
Bot I schal kenne yow by kynde a crafte J>at is better: [73a]
I haf a tresor in my telde of tow my fayre de3ter,
fat ar maydenez unmard for alle men 3ette,
In Sodamas, J>a3 I hit say, non semloker burdes ; 868
Hit arn ronk, hit am rype, and redy to manne ;
To samen wyth ]do semly J>e solace is better.
I schal biteche yow t>o two £>at tayt arn and quoynt,
And laykez wyth hem as yow lyst, and letez my gestes
one/ _ 872
f enne J>e rebaudez so ronk rerd such a noyse,
fat a3ly hurled in his erez her harlotez speche:
‘Wost £ou not wel ]>at £>ou wonez here a wy3e strange?
An outcomlyng, a carle, we kylle of £>yn heved! 876
Who joyned £>e be jostyse oure japez to blame,
fat com a boy to J>is bor3, J>a3 ]dou be burne ryche?’
fus J>ay ]>robled and [>rong and t>rwe umbe his erez,
And distresed hym wonder strayt wyth strenkj>e in
]>e prece, 880
Bot ])at ]>e 3onge men, so 3epe, 3ornen Reroute,
Wapped upon J>e wyket and wonnen hem tylle,
And by t>e hondez hym hent and horyed hym wythinne,
And steken ]>e 3ates ston-harde wyth stalworth barrez. 884
fay blwe a boffet in blande jmt banned peple,
fat J>ay blustered as blynde as Bayard watz ever;
fay lest of Lotez logging any lysoun to fynde,
Bot nyteled J>er alle £>e ny3t for no3t at £>e last. 888
f enne uch tolke ty3t hem J>at hade of tayt fayled,
And uch on roJ>eled to £>e rest J>at he reche mo3t.
Bot J>ay wem wakned al wrank J>at J>er in won lenged,
Of on J)e uglokest unhap J>at ever on erd suffred. 892
864 MS. iapc3 ; M. iapes. — 891 MS., M. wrank ; M. note wrang( ?).
Digitized by ^ooQle
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Purity
XI. The Destruction of the Cities
Ruddon of £>e day-rawe ros upon U3ten,
When merk of |>e mydny3t mo3t no more last.
Ful erly J>ose aungelez |>is haj)el J)ay ru^en,
And glopnedly on Godez halve gart hym upryse; 896
Fast J)e freke ferkez up ful ferd at his hert,
fay comaunded hym cof to each |>at he hade,
‘Wyth £>y wyf and J)y wy3ez and J)y wlonc de3tters,
For we la^e l>e, Sir Loth, t>at £>ou [>y lyf have. 900
Cayre tid of J)is kythe er combred J>ou wor^e, [73b]
With alle ])i here upon haste, tyl [>ou a hil fynde ;
Foundez faste on yor fete, bifore yor face lokes,
Bot bes never so bolde to blusch yow bihynde, 904
And loke 3e stemme no stepe, bot strechez on faste,
Til 3e reche to a reset, rest 3e never.
For we schal tyne J>is toun and tray])ely disstrye,
Wyth alle J>ise wy3ez so wykke wy3tly devoyde, 908
And alle ]>e londe wyth J>ise ledez we losen at onez ;
Sodomas schal ful sodenly synk into grounde,
And ]>e grounde of Gomorre gorde into helle,
And uche a koste of J>is kyth clater upon hepes.’ 912
fen laled Loth : ‘Lorde, what is best ?
If I me fele upon fote ]>at I fle mo3t,
Hou schulde I huyde me fro hem ]>at hatz his hate
kynned,
In J>e brath of his breth |>at brennez alle J)inkez, 916
To crepe fro my Creator, and know not wheder,
Ne wheder his fooschip me fol3ez bifore o])er bi-
hynde ?’
fe freke sayde: ‘No foschip oure Fader hatz J>e
schewed,
912 M. 1 kyth, M .* kythe ( but see Introd., p. x, n. 2, on the flourish
after h). — 913 Fi . would insert lo3ly after }>en. — 916 MS M.
}>inke3 ; M. note )>inge $. — 918 last four letters of fooschip retraced ,
as also sake (922), (o)ut of (923), etc. ( see Introd p. ix\.
Digitized by C^ooQle
3*
Purity
Bot hi3ly hevened \>i hele fro hem J>at arn combred: 920
Nou wale J>e a wonnyng J)at \>e warisch my3t,
And he schal save hit for £>y sake J)at hatz uus sende
hider,
For £>ou art oddely [)yn one out of J>is fylj>e.
And als Abraham, £>y[n em], hit at himself asked.’ 924
‘Lorde, loved he wor^e,’ quod Loth, ‘upon erj)e!
I>e[r] is a cite herbisyde £>at Segor hit hatte,
Here utter on a rounde hil hit hovez hit one,
I wolde, if his wylle wore, to J>at won scape.’ 928
‘E>enn fare forth,’ quod J>at fre, ‘and fyne J>ou never,
Wyth J)ose ilk J)at ]dow wylt £>at J)renge J>e after,
And ay goande on yor gate, wythouten agayntote,
For alle J>is londe schal be lorne, longe er £>e sonne
rise.’ 932
Pt wy3e wakened his wyf and his wlonk de3teres,
And o£>er two myri men J>o maydenez schulde wedde ;
And t>ay token hit as t[a]yt, and tented hit lyttel,
I>a3 fast lat>ed hem Loth, |>ay le3en ful stylle. 936
Pe aungelez hasted J>ise o\>er, and a3ly hem £>ratten, [ 74 a]
And enf orsed alle fawre forth at 3atez :
I>o wern Loth and his lef , his luflyche de3ter,
I>er so3t no mo to savement of cities at>el fyve. 940
!>ise aungelez hade hem by hande out at J)e 3atez,
Prechande hem J>e perile, and beden hem passe fast :
‘Lest 3e be taken in |>e teche of tyrauntez here,
Loke 3e bowe now bi bot, bowez fast hence !’ 944
And £>ay kayre ne con and kenely flowen ;
921 M. walle, but e of MS. written over second 1 . — 924 MS.
broker is written in a second hand, the b and r being unlike the
scribe's , over the n of }>yn and zvhat was apparently em, perhaps
eme; the first stroke of n is plainly visible just before the b, and
some other bits of the original handwriting may be distinguished. —
926 MS., M. J?en. — 928 wore apparently retraced. — 935 MS., M.
tyt. — 945 MS., E. kayre ne con; M. kayre-ne ( Glossary kayrene) ;
Fi. quotes and accepts Trautmann’s emendation encon ( see note).
Digitized by L^ooQle
Purity
37
Erly, er any heven-glem, J>ay to a hil comen.
Pe grete God in his greme bygynnez on lofte;
To wakan wederez so wylde J)e wyndez he callez, 948
And J)ay wroJ>ely upwafte and wrastled togeder,
Fro fawre half of J>e folde flytande loude.
Clowdez clustered bytwene, kesten up torres,
Pat J>e J>ik J)under-J>rast Juried hem ofte. 952
Pe rayn rueled adoun, ridlande J)ikke,
Of felle flaunkes of fyr and flakes of soufre,
A1 in smolderande smoke smachande ful ille,
Swe aboute Sodamas and hit sydez alle, 956
Gorde to Gomorra, J>at J>e grounde laused,
Abdama and Syboym, J>ise ceteis alle faure,
A1 birolled wyth J>e rayn, rostted and brenned,
And ferly flayed J>at folk J)at in J>ose fees lenged. 960
For when J)at }>e helle herde houndez of heven,
He watz ferlyly fayn, unfolded bylyve;
Pe grete barrez of J>e abyme he barst up at onez,
Pat alle J>e regioun torof in riftes ful grete, 964
And cloven alle in lyttel cloutes J>e clyffez aywhere,
As lance levez of J)e boke J>at lepes in t wynne.
Pe brethe of J)e brynston bi J>at hit blende were,
A1 Jdo citees and her sydes sunkken to helle. 968
Rydelles wern J>o grete rowtes of renkkes wythinne,
When J>ay wern war of J)e wrake J>at no wy3e
achaped ;
Such a 3omerly 3arm of 3ellyng J>er rysed,
Perof clatered J)e cloudes J>at Kryst my3t haf rawj)e. 9 72
Pe segge herde J>at soun to Segor J>at 3ede, [74b]
And J>e wenches hym wyth J>at by J>e way fol3ed ;
Ferly ferde watz her flesch J>at flowen ay ilyche,
Trynande ay a hy3e trot £>at torne never dorsten. 976
Loth and £>0 luly-whit, his lefly two de3ter,
956 MS., M. swe; M. note sweyed(?) accepted by Fi .; B. swe[d]
or swe [led].
Digitized by L^ooQle
3 »
Purity
Ay fol3ed here face, bifore her bo£>e y3en;
Bot t>e balleful burde J)at never bode keped,
Blusched byhynden her bak, Jmt bale for to herkken. 980
Hit watz lusty Lothes wyf f>at over he[r] lyfte
schulder
Ones ho bluschet to J>e bur3e, bot bod ho no lenger,
Pat ho nas stadde a stifle ston, a stalworth image
Also salt as ani se, and so ho 3et standez. 984
Pay slypped bi and sy3e hir not £>at wern hir samen-
feres,
Tyl J>ay in Segor wern sette, and sayned our Lorde;
Wyth ly3t lovez uplyfte |>ay loved hym swyj)e,
Pat so his servauntes wolde see and save of such woJ>e. 988
A 1 watz dampped and don and drowned by £>enne;
Pe ledez of J)at lyttel toun wern lopen out for drede
Into }>at malscrande mere, marred bylyve,
Pat no3t saved watz bot Segor J>at sat on a lawe, 992
Pe }>re ledez J>erin, Loth and his de3ter.
For his make watz myst, J>at on \>e mount lenged
In a stonen statue J>at salt savor habbes,
For two fautes J>at J)e fol watz f ounde in mistrau})e : 996
On, ho served at J>e soper salt bifore Dry3tyn,
And sy}>en, ho blusched hir bihynde, J>a3 hir forboden
were;
For on ho standes a ston, and salt for |>at o£>er,
And alle lyst on hir lik |>at arn on launde bestes. 1000
Abraham ful erly watz up on \>e morne,
Pat alle na3t much niye hade nom[e]n in his hert,
A 1 in longing for Loth leyen in a wache,
Per he lafte hade oure Lorde, he is on lofte wonnen; 1004
He sende toward Sodomas J>e sy3t of his y3en,
Pat ever hade ben an erde of er{>e J>e swettest,
As aparaunt to paradis J)at plantted {>e Dry3tyn;
981 MS. he, M. he[r]. — 1002 MS., M. no mon, M. inserting [so]
after na3t; Ft. Mould, omit alle; E. suggests nomon ( see note).
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Purity
39
Nou is hit plunged in a pit like of pich fylled. 1008
Suche a ro\>\m of a reche ros fro t>e blake, [75a]
Askez upe in J)e ayre and usellez J>er flowen,
As a fornes ful of flot J)at upon fyr boyles
When bry3t brennande brondez ar bet J)er anunder. 1012
Pis watz a vengaunce violent t>at voyded J>ise places,
Pat foundered hatz so fayr a folk, and J)e folde
sonkken.
Per faure citees wern set, nou is a see called,
Pat ay is drovy and dym, and ded in hit kynde, 1016
Bio, blubrande, and blak, unblyj)e to ne3e,
As a stynkande stanc J)at stryed synne,
Pat ever of s[mell]e and of smach, smart is to fele.
ForJ)y t>e derk Dede See hit is demed evermore, 1020
For hit dedez of de{)e duren J>ere 3et;
For hit is brod and bo£>emlez, and bitter as \>e galle,
And no3t may lenge in £>at lake J)at any lyf berez,
And alle J>e costez of kynde hit combrez uch one. 1024
For lay t>eron a lump of led, and hit on loft fletez,
And folde t>eron a ly3t fyj)er, and hit to founs
synkkez ;
And t>er water may waiter to wete any er^e,
Schal never grene t>eron growe, gresse ne wod naw^er. 1028
If any schalke to be schent wer schowved t>erinne,
Pa3 he bode in £>at bo^em bro^ely a monyth,
He most ay lyve in J)at lo3e in losyng evermore,
And never dry3e no dethe to dayes of ende. 1032
And as hit is corsed of kynde, and hit coostez als,
Pe clay J>at clenges J)erby arn corsyes strong,
1015 }>er faure by second hand , the r of }>er being unlike the
scribe's ( cf . for 257, broker, 924) and the r of faur having an
extraordinary flourish above it, apparently intended as abbrev . for
e ; a faint stroke under a may indicate that the original had fyve :
is, inserted above line by second hand, which is betrayed by the
Greek s. — 1019 MS,, M., Sk. synne. — 1027 Sk . inserts }>at after
}>er. — 1028 M. 1 greue, note grene(?); M .* grene.
Digitized by v^ooQle
4 o
Purity
As alum and alkaran, J>at angre arn bo^e,
Souf re sour, and saundyver, and oper such mony ; 1036
And t>er waltez of t>at water, in waxlokes grete,
I>e spu[m]ande aspaltoun l>at spyserez sellen;
And suche is alle £>e soyle by £>at se halves,
I>at fel fretes J>e flesch and festre[s] bones. 1040
And \>tr ar tres by J)at terne of traytores,
And t>ay borgounez and beres blomez ful fayre,
And \>e fayrest fryt J)at may on folde growe,
As orenge and o^er fryt and apple garnade, 1044
Also red and so ripe and rychely hwed [ 75 b]
As any dom my3t device of dayntyez oute;
Bot quen hit is brused, oj^er broken, o\>er byten in
twynne,
No worldez goud hit wythinne, bot wyndowande askes. 1048
XIa. Exhortation to Purity
Alle J>yse ar teches and tokenes to trow upon 3et,
And wittnesse of J>at wykked werk, and J>e wrake after
Pat oure Fader forferde for fylj>e of J>ose ledes.
Penne uch wy3e may wel wyt £>at he f>e wlonk lovies ; 1052
And if he lovyes clene layk f>at is oure Lorde ryche,
And to be couJ>e in his corte J>ou coveytes J>enne,
To se ]>at Semly in sete and his swete face,
Clerrer counseyl con I non, bot t>at J)ou clene worf>e. 1056
For Clopyngnel in t>e compas of his clene Rose,
Per he expounez a speche, to hym J>at spede wolde,
1035 MS., M., Sk. alkaran; M. note alkatran(F). — 1037 M., Sk.
angre; M. note augre = aigre( ?). — 1038 MS. has five strokes
between sp and ande, and the last of these strokes is an i as stroke
above shows; M., Sk, spuniande; M . note spinnande( ?) ; Sk.
Glossary spinnande or spumande, latter adopted by NED. — 1040
MS., M., Sk. festred; M. note festres(P). — 1041 Sk. adds kynde
after traytores. — 1048 MS. wyndowande ; M., Sk. wydowande,
noting MS. reading, but Sk. Glossary 'or wyndowande/ — 1053 E.
clenelayk. — 1056 MS., M. counseyl counsayl.
Digitized by 30Qle
Purity
4i
Of a lady to be loved : ‘Loke to hir sone,
Of wich beryng J>at ho be, and wych ho best lovyes, 1060
And be ry3t such, in uch a bor3e, of body and of
dedes,
And fol3 J>e fet of J>at fere J>at J>ou fre haldes;
And if \>ovl wyrkkes on J>is wyse, ^3 ho wyk were,
Hir schal lyke t>at layk t>at lyknes hir tylle/ 1064
If t>ou wyl dele drwrye wyth Dry3tyn, J)enne,
And lelly lovy \>y Lorde, and his leef worJ>e,
Penne conforme \>e to Kryst, and [>e clene make,
Pat ever is polyced als playn as \>e perle selven. 1068
For loke fro fyrst t>at he ly3t wythinne t>e lei
Mayden,
By how comly a kest he watz clos t>ere,
When venkkyst watz no vergynyte, ne vyolence maked,
Bot much clener watz hir corse, God kynned !>erinne. 1072
And efte when he borne watz in Be^elen \>e ryche,
In wych puryte J)ay departed; ^3 J)ay pover were,
Watz never so blysful a bour as watz a bos t>enne,
Ne no schroude-hous so schene as a schepon t>are, 1076
Ne non so glad under God as ho J>at grone schulde.
For t>er watz seknesse al sounde t>at sarrest is halden,
And t>er watz rose reflayr where rote hatz ben ever,
And J>er watz solace and songe wher sor3 hatz ay
cryed; 1080
For aungelles wyth instrumentes of organes and
pypes, [ 76 a]
And rial ryngande rotes, and \>e reken fyt>el.
And alle hende [>at honestly mo3t an hert glade,
Aboutte my Lady watz lent, quen ho delyver were. 1084
Penne watz her bly[)e barne burnyst so clene
Pat bo[>e [>e ox and f>e asse hym hered at ones :
Pay knewe hym by his clannes for Kyng of nature,
1071 MS. he expunged , after when. — 1075 ^ 5 *., M. abos; M.
note abof(?); Sk. a bos.
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Purity
For non so clene of such a clos com never er t>enne. 1088
And 3if clanly he J>enne com, ful cortays terafter,
Pat alle tat longed to luter ful lodly he hated;
By nobleye of his norture he nolde never towche
C>3t t>at watz ungoderly of>er ordure watz inne. 1092
§et comen lodly to f>at Lede, as lazares monye,
Summe lepre, summe lome, and lomerande blynde,
Poysened, and parlatyk, and pyned in fyres,
Drye folk, and ydropike, and dede, at t>e laste — 1096
Alle called on tat Cortayse and claymed his grace.
He heled hem wyth hynde speche of tat t>ay ask after,
For what so he towched, also tyd torned to hele,
Wei clanner ten any crafte cow{)e devyse. 1100
So clene watz his hondelyng uche ordure hit schonied,
And t>e gropyng so goud of God and man bote,
Pat for fetys of his fyngeres fonded he never
Nauter to cout ne to kerve wyth knyf ne wyth egge; 1104
For^y brek he te bred blades wythouten,
For hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde,
Displayed more pryvyly when he hit part schulde,
Penne alle te toles of Tolowse mo3t ty3t hit to kerve. 1108
Pus is he kyryous and clene tat tou his cort askes ;
Hou schulde tou com to his kyth bot if t ou clene
were?
Nou ar we sore and synful and souly uch one,
How schulde we se, ten may we say, tat Syre upon
throne? 1112
§is, tat Mayster is mercyable, ta3 t ou be man fenny
And al tomarred in myre, whyl tou on molde lyvyes ;
Pou may schyne tur3 schryfte, ta3 t ou haf schome
served,
And pure \>e with penaunce .tyl tou a perle worte. 1116
Perle praysed is prys ter perre is schewed, [76b]
1104 MS., M . cout; M. note cut(?). — mi MS. sovly; M.
sov[er]ly; Fi. soudly or solwy.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Purity
43
Pa3 hym not derrest be demed to dele for penies.
Quat may \>e cause be called bot for hir clene hwes,
Pat Wynnes worschyp abof alle whyte stones? 1120
For ho schynes so schyr t>at is of schap rounde,
Wythouten faut ot>er fyl^e, 3if ho fyn were
And wax ever in t>e worlde in weryng so olde,
§et l>e perle pay res not whyle ho in pyese lasttes; 1124
And if hit cheve t>e chaunce uncheryst ho wor^e,
Pat ho blyndes of ble in bour t>er ho lygges,
No-bot wasch hir wyth worchyp in wyn, as ho askes,
Ho by kynde schal becom clerer l>en are. 1128
So if folk be defowled by unfre chaunce,
Pat he be sulped in sawle, seche to schryfte,
And he may polyce hym at t>e prest, by penaunce taken,
Wei bry3ter t>en J>e beryl oJ)er browden perles. 1132
Bot war t>e wel, if t>ou be waschen wyth water of
schryfte,
And polysed als playn as parchmen schaven,
Sulp no more t>enne in synne {>y saule !>erafter,
For }>enne t>ou Dry3tyn dyspleses wyth dedes ful sore, 1136
And entyses hym to tene more tray{)ly t>en ever,
And wel hatter to hate \>en hade \>on not waschen.
For when a sawele is sa3tled and sakred to Dry3tyn,
He holly haldes hit his, and have hit he wolde; 1140
Penne efte lastes hit likkes, he loses hit ille,
As hit were rafte wyth unry3t, and robbed wyth
|>ewes.
War t>e t>enne for \>e wrake; his wrath is achaufed
For t>at t>at ones watz his schulde efte be unclene, 1144
Pa3 hit be bot a bassyn, a bolle, ol>er a scole,
A dysche, oJ>er a dobler, t>at Dry3tyn onez served,
To defowle hit ever upon folde fast he forbedes,
So is he scoymus of scaj>e t>at scylful is ever. 1148
1123 Fi. adopts M/s suggestion (in notes ) of wax ho euer. — 1124
MS M . pyese; B, pye[r]e. — 1142 MS., M. }>ewes; M. note
]>eues( ?).
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Purity
And f>at watz bared in Babyloyn in Baltazar tyme,
Hou harde unhap t>er hym hent and hastyly sone,
For he \>e vesselles avyled t>at vayled in \>e temple
In servyse of \>e Soverayn sumtyme byfore. 1152
§>if 3e wolde ty3t me a tom, telle hit I wolde, [ 77 a]
Hou charged more watz his chaunce t>at hem cherych
nolde
Pen his fader forloyne t>at feched hem wyth stren^e,
And robbed \>e relygioun of relykes alle. 1156
XII. The Capture of Jerusalem
Danyel in his dialokez devysed sumtyme,
As 3et is proved expresse in his profecies,
Hou f>e gentryse of Juise and Jherusalem J>e ryche
Watz disstryed wyth distres, and drawen to \>e er^e. 1160
For t>at folke in her fayth watz founden untrwe,
Pat haden hy3t f>e hy3e God to halde of hym ever ;
And he hem hal3ed for his and help at her nede
In mukel meschefes mony, t>at mervayl [is] to here; 1164
And J)ay forloyne her fayth and fol3ed o\>er goddes,
And [>at wakned his wrath and wrast hit so hy3e,
Pat he fylsened faythful in f>e falce lawe
To forfare f>e falce in \>e faythe trwe. 1168
Hit watz sen in J>at sy{)e [>at Zede[c]hyas rengned
In Juda, ])at justised \>e Juyne kynges. ,
He sete on Salamones solie, on solemne wyse,
Bot of leaute he watz lat to his Lorde hende: 1172
He used abominaciones of idolatrye,
And lette ly3t bi \>e lawe [>at he watz lege tylle.
For[>i oure Fader upon folde a foman hym wakned,
Nabigodenozar nuyed hym swy[)e; 1176
He pursued into Palastyn wyth proude men mony,
1155 MS., M. forloyne; Fi., E. forloyn[ed]. — 1159 MS. jhrlem,
M. VaerusaXem . — 1164 M. inserts [is]. — 1169 MSi 3edethyas, as
M . notes .
Digitized by C^ooQie
Purity
45
And l>er he wast wyth werre {>e wones of ]?orpes.
He he^ed up alle Israel, and hent of t>e beste,
And t>e gentylest of Judee in Jerusalem biseged, 1180
Umbewalt alle {>e walles wyth wy3es ful stronge,
At uche a dor a do3ty duk, and dutte hem wythinne ;
For t>e bor3 watz so bygge b[a]tayled alofte,
And stoffed wythinne wyth stout men to stalle hem
Reroute. 1184
Penne watz t>e sege sette t>e cete aboute,
Skete skarmoch skelt, much ska]}e lached;
At uch brugge a berfray on basteles wyse,
Pat seven syj)e uch a day asayled t>e 3ates ; [ 77 b]
Trwe tulkkes in toures teveled wythinne, 1189
In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on t>e walles ;
Pay fe3t and t>ay fende of, and fylter togeder
Til two 3er overtorned, 3et tok t>ay hit never. 1192
At {>e laste upon longe, \>o ledes wythinne
Faste fayled hem t>e fode, enfaminied monie;
Pe hote hunger wythinne hert hem wel sarre
Pen any dunt of J)at douthe J)at dowelled Reroute. 1196
Penne wern ]x> rowtes redles in J>o ryche wones;
Fro J)at mete watz myst, megre t>ay wexen,
And t>ay stoken so strayt {>at {>ay ne stray my3t
A fote fro t>at forselet to forray no goudes. 1200
Penne t>e kyng of {>e kyth a counsayl hym takes,
Wyth t>e best of his burnes a blench for to make :
Pay stel out on a stylle ny3t er any steven rysed,
And harde hurles J>ur3 l>e oste, er enmies hit wyste. 1204
Bot er t>ay atwappe ne mo3t t>e wach wythoute,
Hi3e skelt watz t>e askry t>e skewes anunder ;
Loude alarom upon launde lulted watz t>enne ;
Ryche, ru^ed of her rest, ran to her wedes, 1208
1178 MS. wyth with. — 1179 MS. isrl, with usual abbrev. for e
attached to 1 ; M. Israel , — 1180 MS. jrl*m; M. I^ri^al^m (so
also 1235 , 1432 ), — 1183 MS,, M, baytayled. — 1189 M, 1 tended, M. 2
teueled. — 1189 NED. prints atwappene (see note).
Digitized by Google
46
Purity
Hard hattes t>ay hent and on hors lepes ;
Cler claryoun crak cryed on lofte.
By l>at, watz alle on a hepe hurlande swyt>[e],
Fol3ande J>at o\>er flote, and fonde hem bilyve, 1212
Overtok hem as tyd, tult hem of sadeles,
Tyl uche prynce hade his per put to t>e grounde.
And t>er watz \>e kyng ka3t wyth Calde prynces,
And alle hise gentyle forjusted on Jerico playnes, 1216
And presented wern as presoneres to t>e prynce
rychest,
Nabigodenozar, noble in his chayer;
And he t>e faynest freke t>at he his fo hade,
And speke spitously hem to, and spylt ]>erafter. 1220
t>e kynges sunnes in his sy3t he slow everuch one,
And holkked out his auen y3en heterly bo])e,
And bede J>e burne to be bro3t to Babyloyn t>e ryche,
And t>ere in doungoun be don to dre3e t>er his
wyrdes. [ 78 a]
Now se, so ]>e Soveray[n] set hatz his wrake; 1225
Nas hit not for Nabugo ne his noble nau]>er,
E>at o[>er depryved watz of pryde with paynes stronge,
Bot for his beryng so badde agayn his blyj>e Lorde; 1228
For hade ]>e Fader ben his frende ]>at hym bifore
keped,
Ne never trespast to him in teche of mysseleve,
To C[a]lde wer alle calde, and kythes of Ynde —
get take Torkye hem wyth, her tene hade ben little. 1232
get nolde never Nabugo ]>is ilke note leve,
Er he hade t[yrv]ed ])is toun and torne hit to grounde.
He joyned unto Jerusalem a gentyle due ]>enne,
His name watz Nabuzardan, to noye ]>e Jues; 1236
He watz mayster of his men and my3ty himselven,
I2\i MS., M. swy)>ee. — 1225 MS. soveray; M. sou£ray[n]. —
1231 MS., M. to Colde wer al Calde ( see note ) ; Fi. suggests
to-corven(l) for to Colde.— 1234 MS., M., E. tuyred; G. tyrued:
E. torne[d].
Digitized by ^ooQie
Purity
47
Pe chef of his chevalrye his chekkes to make ;
He brek t>e bareres as bylyve, and t>e bur3 after,
And enteres in ful ernestly, in yre of his hert. 1240
What ! t>e maysterry watz mene, J>e men wern away,
Pe best bo3ed wyth J>e burne J>at t>e bor3 3emed;
And \>o t>at by den wer [s]o biten with J>e bale hunger
Pat on wyf hade ben wor^e l>e welgest fourre. 1244
Nabizardan no3t forJ>y nolde not spare,
Bot bede al to J>e bronde under bare egge ;
Pay slowen of swettest semlych burdes,
Ba^ed barnes in blod, and her brayn spylled, 1248
Prestes and prelates t>ay presed to del>e,
Wyves and wenches her wombes tocorven,
Pat her boweles outborst aboute t>e diches,
And al watz carfully kylde J>at f>ay each my3t. 1252
And alle [t>at] swypped unswol3ed of sworde kene,
Pay wer cagged and ka3t on capeles al bare,
Festned fettres to her fete under foie wombes,
And broody bro3t to Babyloyn J>er bale to suffer; 1256
So sytte in servage and syte f>at sumtyme wer gentyle ;
Now ar chaunged to chorles, and charged wyth
werkkes,
Bot>e to cayre at \>e kart and t>e kuy mylke,
Pat sumtyme sete in her sale syres and burdes. [78b]
Xlla. The Seizure of the Holy Relics
And 3et Nabuzardan nyl never stynt 1261
Er he to t>e tempple tee wyth his tulkkes alle ;
Betes on t>e barers, brestes up t>e 3ates,
Slouen alle at a slyp J>at served !>erinne, 1264
Pulden prestes bi f>e polle, and plat of her hedes,
Di3ten dekenes to det>e, dungen doun clerkkes,
1243 MS. fo, as M. notes . — 1253 M. supplies }>at. — 1257 M. to
{with comma after suffer and semi-colon after syte), but MS.,
though very faint, seems to read so.
Digitized by ^ooQle
48 Purity
And alle t>e maydenes of t>e munster ma3tyly h[e]
kyllen
Wyth l>e swayf of t>e sworde t>at swol3ed hem alle. 1268
Penne ran t>ay to t>e relykes as robbors wylde,
And pyled alle t>e apparement t>at pented to t>e
kyrke —
Pe pure pyleres [o]f bras portrayd in golde,
And t>e chef chaundeler, charged with ]?e ly3t, 1272
Pat ber \>e lamp upon lofte J>at lemed evermore
Bifore t>[e] Sancta Sanctorum, t>er selcouth watz
ofte.
Pay ca3t away {>at condelstik, and t>e crowne als,
Pat l>e auter hade upon, of at>el golde ryche; 1276
Pe gredirne and f>e goblotes garnyst of sylver,
Pe bases of \>e bry3t postes and bassynes so schyre,
Dere disches of golde and dubleres fayre,
Pe vyoles and J>e vesselment of vertuous stones. 1280
Now hatz Nabuzardan nomen alle t>yse noble Synges,
And pyled J>at precious place, and pakked t>ose godes ;
Pe golde of t>e gazafylace to swyt>e gret noumbre,
Wyth alle t>e urnmentes of t>at hous, he hamppred
togeder. 1284
Alle he spoyled spitously in a sped whyle
Pat Salomon so mony a sadde 3er so3t to make,
Wyth alle t>e coyntyse t>at he cow^e, clene to wyrke,
Devised he t>e vesselment, J>e vestures clene; 1288
Wyth sly3t of his ciences, his Soverayn to love,
Pe hous and t>e anomementes he hy3tled togedere.
Now hatz Nabuzardan num[men] hit al samen,
And syf>en bet doun f>e bur3 and brend hit in askes. 1292
Penne wyth legiounes of ledes over londes he rydes,
Her3ez of Israel t>e hyrne aboute;
1267 MS., M. hokyllen, E. suggests hom kylled. — 1271 of, o
blotted in MS . — 1274 MS. l>sancta, M. J>[e] sancta; MS. scor with
abbrev. for um, M. sanctorum . — 1291 MS. nuned; M. nuwnend,
but note nummen(?).
Digitized by ^ooQle
I
Purity 49
Wyth charged chariotes t>e cheftayn he fynde[z],
Bikennes t>e catel to \>e kyng, t>at he ca3t hade, [ 79 a]
Presented him \>e presoneres in pray ]>at ]>ay token — 1297
Moni a wor])ly \vy3e whil her worlde laste,
Moni semly syre soun, and swy]>e rych maydenes,
Pe pruddest of J>e province, and prophetes childer, 1300
As Ananie, and Azarie, and als Mizael,
And dere Daniel also, ]>at watz devine noble,
With moni a modey moder chylde mo ]>en innoghe.
And Nabugodenozar makes much joye, 1304
Nou he ]>e kyng hatz conquest and ]>e kyth wunnen,
And dreped alle \>e do3tyest and derrest in armes,
And ]>e lederes of her la we layd to ]>e grounde,
And [>e pryce of ]>e profecie presoners maked; 1308
Bot [)e joy of \>e juelrye so gentyle and ryche,
When hit watz schewed hym so schene, scharp watz
his wonder;
Of such vessel avayed ]>at vayled so huge,
Never 3€t nas Nabugodenozar er ]>enne. 1312
He sesed hem wyth solemnete, ]>e Soverayn he praysed
Pat watz a]>el over alle, Israel Dry3tyn;
Such god, such gomes, such gay vesselles,
Comen never out of kyth to Caldee reames. 1316
He trussed hem in his tresorye in a tryed place
Rekenly wyth reverens, as he ry3t hade;
And ]>er he wro3t as [>e wyse, as 3e may wyt hereafter,
For hade he let of hem ly3t, hym mo3t haf lumpen
worse. 1320
Pat ryche in gret rialte rengned his lyve,
As conqueror of uche a cost he cayser watz hatte,
Emperor of alle ]>e er]>e, and also ]>e saudan,
1295 MS. fynde, M. fynde[3], — 1296 Catchwords Bikennes >e
catel at bottom of preceding page. — 1297 M. expands the same
abbreviation above p differently , presented, but prtsoneres; but cf.
presoneres written out in 1217. — 1299 M. 1 soun; ilf. 2 sone, cf. 666.
— 1308 M. expands prisoners, but cf. 1297.
Digitized by C^ooQle
5 °
Purity
And als t>e god of ]?e grounde watz graven his name, 1324
And al t>ur3 dome of Daniel, fro he devised hade
Pat alle goudes com of God, and gef hit hym bi
samples,
Pat he ful clanly bicnu his carp bi t>e laste,
And ofte hit mekned his mynde, his maysterful
werkkes. 1328
Bot al drawes to dy3e wyth doel up[o]n ende;
Bi a hat>el never so hy3e, he heldes to grounde,
And so Nabugodenozar, as he nedes moste,
For alle his empire so hi3e, in er[>e is he graven. [ 79 b]
Bot t>enn t>e bolde Baltazar, J>at watz his barn
aldest, 1333
He watz stalled in his stud, and stabled t>e rengne;
In J>e bur3 of Babiloyne t>e biggest he trawed,
Pat nau[>er in heven ne [on] er]>e hade no pere; 1336
For he bigan in alle t>e glori t>at hym ]?e gome lafte,
Nabugodenozar, t>at watz his noble fader;
So kene a kyng in Caldee com never er [>enne.
Bot honored he not hym t>at in heven wonies, 1340
Bot fals fantummes of fendes, formed with handes
Wyth tool out of harde tre, and telded on lofte,
And of stokkes and stones he stoute goddes callz
When t>ay are gilde al with golde and gered wyth
sylver, . 1344
And f>ere he kneles and callez, and clepes after help.
And f>ay reden him ry3t, rewarde he hem hetes,
And if t>ay gruchen him his grace to gremen his hert,
He cleches to a gret klubbe and knokkes hem. to peces. 1348
Pus in pryde and olipraunce his empyre he haldes,
In lust and in lecherye, and lo^elych werkkes ;
And hade a wyf for to welde, a wor^elych quene,
1325 MS., M. fro, M. note for(?).— 1327 M . 1 bicu ver which MS.
resembles, M ? bicnv.— 1329 MS. vpn. — 1330 MS., M. bi; M. note
be(?), accepted by Ft. — 1336 MS., M. no erj>e; M. note on(?).
Digitized by L^ooQle
Purity
5i
And mony a lemman, never t>e later, t>at ladis wer
called. I35 2
In t>e clernes of his concubines an^i curious wedez,
In notyng of nwe metes and of nice gettes,
A1 watz J)e mynde of J)at man on misschapen t>inges,
Til t>e Lorde of t>e lyfte liste hit abate. 1356
XIII. Belshazzar's Feast
Thenne \>is bolde Baltazar bi^enkkes hym ones
To vouche on avayment of his vayneg[l]orie:
Hit is not innoghe to l>e nice al no3ty t>ink use,
Bot if alle \>e worlde wyt his wykked dedes. 1360
Baltazar J>ur3 Babiloyn his banne gart crye,
And t>ur3 t>e cuntre of Caldee his callyng con spryng,
tat alle t>e grete upon grounde schulde geder hem
samen,
And assemble at a set day at t>e saudans fest. 1364
Such a mangerie to make t>e man watz avised,
tat uche a kythyn kyng schuld com J>ider ;
Uche duk wyth his duthe and ol>er dere lordes
Schulde com to his cort to kyfye hym for lege, [80a]
And to reche hym reverens, and his revel herkken, 1369
To loke on his lemanes and ladis hem calle.
To rose hym in his rialty rych men so3tten,
And mony a baroun ful bolde, to Babyloyn {>e noble. 1372
ter bowed toward Babiloyn burnes so mony,
Kynges, cayseres ful kene, to t>e cort wonnen,
Mony ludisch lordes J>at ladies bro3ten,
tat to neven t>e noumbre to much nye were. 1376
For t>e bor3 watz so brod and so bigge alee,
Stalled in J)e fayrest stud t>e sterrez anunder,
Prudly on a plat playn, plek al^erfayrest,
Umbesweyed on uch a syde wyth seven grete wateres, 1380
1358 MS, vayne gorie; M. vayne g[l]orie. — 1359 MS,, M. >ink;
M, note ]?ing(?).
Digitized by ^ooQle
5 2
Purity
Wyth a wonder wro3t walle wruxeled ful hi3e,
Wyth koynt carneles above, corven ful clene,
Troched toures bitwene, twenty spere lent>e,
And l>iker t>rowen umbe^or wyth overt) wert palle. 1384
Pe place l>at plyed \>t pursaunt wythinne,
Watz longe and ful large and ever ilych sware,
And uch a syde upon soyle helde seven myle,
And t>e saudans sete sette in t>e myddes. 1388
Pat watz a palayce of pryde passande alle ot>er, |
Bot>e of werk and of wunder and walle al aboute;
He3e houses wythinne \>e halle to hit m[a]d,
So brod bilde in a bay t>at blonkkes my3t renne. 1392
When t>e terme of tyde watz towched of [J>e]
feste,
Dere dro3en t>erto, and upon des metten,
And Baltazar upon bench was busked to sete;
Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne. 1396
Penne watz alle f>e halle-flor hiled wyth kny3tes,
And barounes at \>t sidebordes bounet a [y] where,
For non watz dressed upon dece bot t>e dere selven,
And his clere concubynes in clones ful bry3t. 1400
When alle segges were J>er set, \>en servyse
bygynnes,
Stumen trumpen strake steven in halle,
Aywhere by f>e wowes wrasten krakkes,
And brode baneres f>erbi blusnande of gold; [ 80 b]
Burnes berande J>e bredes upon brode skeles, 1405
Pat were of sylveren sy3t, and s[e]rved t>erwyth,
1385 MS. ]>o w 1 , M. pour-with; M . note l>ore(?). — 1391 MS., M.
to hit med; Fi. proposes ful hy3e(!). — 1393 MS. towched quite
clearly; M. to vsched; Fi. touched: M. reads pe feste, but in MS.
both words are written at the end of 1392 above a break, and though
some letters certainly precede feste, I cannot distinguish them . —
1398 M. aywhere, but y blurred in MS. and very much like o . —
1405 MS. l>e l>e. — 1406 MS. seved with a flourish apparently over
v, M. reads MS. severed, and prints seerved.
Digitized by ^ooQie
Purity
Lyfte logges J>erover and on lofte corven,
Pared out of paper and poynted of golde,
Brof>e baboynes abof, besttes anunder,
Foies in foler flakerande bitwene,
And al in asure and ynde enaumayld ryche,
And al on blonkken bak bere hit on honde.
And ay t>e nakeryn noyse, notes of pipes,
Tymbres and tabornes, tulket among;
Symbales and sonetez sware noyse,
And bougounz busch batered so {)ikke.
So watz served fele syt>e t>e sale alle aboute,
Wyth solace at \>e sere course bifore f>e self lorde,
Per t>e lede and alle his love lenged at t>e table.
So faste J>ay we3ed to him wyne, hit warmed his hert, 1420
And breyl>ed uppe into his brayn and blemyst his
mynde,
And al waykned his wyt, and wel ne3e he foies;
For he waytez on wyde, his wenches he byholdes,
And his bolde baronage aboute bi J>e wo3es. 1424
Penne a dotage ful depe drof to his hert, ^
And a caytif counsayl he ca3t bi hymselven.
Maynly his marschal ]?e mayster upon calles,
And comaundes hym cofly coferes to lance, 1428
And fech ior\>e vessel f>at his fader bro3t,
Nabugodenozar, noble in his strenf>e,
Conquerd with his kny3tes, and of kyrk rafte,
In Jude, in Jerusalem in gentyle wyse: 1432
‘Bryng hem now to my borde, of beverage hem fylles,
Let t>ise ladyes of hem lape — I luf hem in hert!
Pat schal I cortaysly ky]?e, and t>ay schin knawe sone
Per is no bounte in burne lyk Baltazar ^ewes/ 1436
Penne towchede to J>e tresor J>is tale watz sone,
And he wyth keyes uncloses kystes ful mony;
1408 MS. glolde. — 1414 MS., M. among; Fi. among [es]. — 1429
MS., M. for)>e; Fi. for l>e.
S 3
1408
1412
1416
Digitized by ^ooQle
54
Purity
Mony burden ful bry3t watz bro3t into halle,
And covered mony a cupborde with clones ful quite. [81a]
Pe jueles out of Jerusalem wyth gemmes ful bry3t, 1441
Bi l>e syde of \>e sale were semely arayed ;
Pe af>el auter of brasse watz hade into place;
Pe gay coroun of golde gered on lofte, 1444
f>at hade ben blessed bifore wyth bischopes hondes,
And wyth besten blod busily anoynted,
In t>e solempne sacrefyce t>at goud savor hade,
Bifore t>e Lorde of \>e lyfte in lovyng hymselven, 1448
Now is sette for to serve Satanas \>e blake,
Bifore \>e bolde Baltazar wyth bost and wyth pryde.
Hoven upon J>is auter watz at>el vessel,
Pat wyth so curious a crafte corven watz wyly. 1452
Salamon sete him s[eve]n 3ere and a syt>e more,
Wyth alle t>e syence ]>at hym sende t>e soverayn Lorde,
For to compas and kest to haf hem clene wro3t.
For t>er wer bassynes ful bry3t of brende golde clere, 1456
Enaumaylde wyth azer, and eweres of sute;
Covered iowpes foul clene, as casteles arayed,
Enbaned under batelment wyth bantelles quoynt,
And fyled out of fygures of ferly[ch]e schappes. 1460
Pe coperounes of t>e c[ov]acles t>at on t>e cuppe reres
Wer fetysely formed out in fylyoles longe,
Pinacles py3t t>er apert l>at profert bitwene,
And al boiled abof wyth braunches and leves, 1464
Pyes and papejayes purtrayed withinne,
As J>ay prudly hade piked of pomgarnades;
For alle J>e blomes of \>e bo3es wer blyknande perles,
And alle f>e fruyt in t>o formes of flaumbeande
gemmes, 1468
1441 MS. jsrlem. — 1452 MS. apparently fo. — 1453 MS. s...n
badly blurred , M. s[eue]n. — 1458 MS., M. foul; M. note ful(?).—
1460 MS., M. ferlyle; M. note ferlyke(?); Fi. ferlyche. — 1461
MS., M. canacles. — 1465 papejayes, second p ill-formed and per-
haps not complete.
Digitized by C^ooQle
Purity
55
Ande safyres, and sardiners, and semely topace,
Alabaund[a]rynes, and amaraunz, and amaffised
stones,
Casydoynes, and crysolytes, and clere rubies,
Penitotes, and pynkardines, ay perles bitwene;
So trayled and tryfled a-traverce wer alle,
Bi uche bekyr ande bol[l]e \>e brurdes al umbe,
Pe gobelotes of golde graven about e,
And fyoles fretted wyth flores and fleez of golde.
Upon J>at auter watz al aliche dresset.
E>e candelstik bi a cost watz cayred \>ider sone,
[U] pon t>e pyleres apyked J>at praysed hit mony,
Upon hit basez of brasse J>at ber up J>e werkes,
t>e bo3es bry3t \>er abof, brayden of golde,
Braunches bredande J>eron, and bryddes J>er seten
Of mony [curious] kyndes, of fele-kyn hues,
As [>ay wyth wynge upon wynde hade waged her
fy[)eres. 1484
Inmong [>e leves of [launces] lampes wer gray[>ed,
And o[>er louflych ly3t [>at lemed ful fayre;
As mony morteres of wax merkked wythoute,
Wyth mony a borlych best al of brende golde. 1488
Hit watz not wonte in J>at wone to wast no serges,
Bot in temple of \>e trau[>e trwly to stonde,
Bifore \>e sancta sanctorum [t>er] so[>efast Dry3tyn
Expouned his speche spyrytually to special prophetes. 1492
Leve J)ou wel [>at [>e Lorde [>at [>e lyfte 3emes,
1469 MS., M . sardiners ; NED., B. sardines. — 1470 MS. alabauda-
rynes(?), or alabaudarrynes ( ?), the letter(s) after d are smudged
and perhaps retraced, a stroke preceding the r possibly indicating
an i; M. x alabaunderrynes ; M. 2 alabaunderynes without remark . —
1474 MS., M. bekyrande ]>e bolde ; B. ande bole. — 1479 MS. pon, M.
[V] pon. — 1483 MS. mony kyndes; Bulbring ( Sch ., p. 185) pro-
posed mony curious kyndes; B. mony kyndes colored; G. mony
cler kyndes. — 1485 Bulbring (Sch., p. 183) inserts launces. — 1486
M. corrects MS. to louelych. — 1491 MS. sea scorwm : I insert ]>er.
— 1492 MS. spually ; M. 1 specually ; M. 2 spiritually.
1472
[ 81 b]
1477
1480
Digitized by ^ooQie
Purity
56
Displesed much at f>at play in {>at plyt stronge,
I>at his jueles so gent wyth javeles wer fouled,
I>at presyous in his presens wer proved sumwhyle.
Soberly in his sacra fyce summe wer anoynted,
£>ur3 J>e somones of himself e {>at syttes so hy3e;
Now a boster on benche bibbes j)erof,
Tyl he be dronkken as f>e devel, and dotes }>er he
syttes. 1500
So \>e Worcher of f>is worlde wlates f>erwyth,
I>at in f>e poynt of her play he porvayes a mynde ;
Bot er harme hem he wolde in haste of his yre,
He wayned hem a warnyng p>at wonder hem {>031. 1504
Nou is alle p>is guere geten glotounes to serve,
Stad in a ryche stal and stared ful bry3t[e] ;
Baltazar in a brayd bede [b]us }>erof —
‘We^e wyn in p>is won — Wassayl!’ he cryes. 1508
Swyfte swaynes ful swyj)e swepen {>ertylle,
Kyppe kowpes in honde kyngez to serve;
In bry3t bollez ful bayn birlen J)ise oJ>er,
And uche mon for his mayster machches alone. • [ 82 a]
Per watz rynging, on ry3t, of ryche metalles, 1513
Quen renkkes in {>at ryche rok rennen hit to cache,
Clatering of covaclez p>at kesten jx> burdes,
As sonet out of sau[t]eray songe als myry. 1516
Pen }>e dotel on dece drank p>at he my3t;
And }>enne [drinkez] arn dressed [to] dukez and
prynces,
Concubines and kny3tes, bi cause of {>at merthe;
As uch on hade hym inhelde, he haled of f>e cuppe. 1520
So long likked J>ise lordes f>ise lykores swete,
And gloryed on her falce goddes, and her grace calles,
1506 MS., M . ^>ry3t3; M. note bry3te(?). — 1506 MS., M. vus . —
1515 M. conacle3. — 1516 MS. saueray; M . sau[t]eray.— 1518
Bulbring ( Sch ., p. 184) reads penne [drinkes] arn dressed [for]
dukez and prynces; B. would insert dere after dressed; G. reads
penne pat derrest arn dressed; E. penne derely arn dressed.
Digitized by C^ooQle
Purity
57
Pat were of stokkes and stones, stille evermore —
Never steven hem astel, so stoken is hor tonge; 1524 ^
Alle pe goude golden goddes pe gaulez 3et nevenen,
Belfagor, and Belyal, and Belssabub als,
Heyred hem as hy3ly as heven wer f>ayres,
Bot hym {>at alle goudes gives, f>at God f>ay for3eten. 1528
Xllla. The Writing on the Wall
For £>er a ferly bifel f>at fele folk se3en —
Fyrst knew hit pe kyng, and alle {>e cort after:
In pe palays pryncipale upon pe playn wowe,
In contrary of pe candelstik p§t clerest hit schyned, 1532
Per apered a paume, wyth poyntel in fyngres,
Pat watz grysly and gret, and grymly he wrytes;
Non oper forme bot a fust faylande pe wryste,
Pared on f>e parget, purtrayed lettres. 1536
When pst bolde Baltazar blusched to J)at neve,
Such a dasande drede dusched to his hert,
Pat al falewed his face and fayled pe chere;
Pe stronge strok of f>e stonde strayned his joyntes, 1540
His cnes cachches to close, and cluchches his hommes,
And he wyth plattyng his paumes displayes his lers,
And romyes as a rad ryth f>at rorez for drede,
Ay biholdand pe honde til hit hade al graven, 1544
And rasped on pe ro3 wo3e runisch sauez.
When hit pe scrypture hade scraped wyth a s[c]rof
penne,
As a coltor in clay cerves po for3es,
Penne hit vanist verayly and voyded of sy3t; [ 82 b]
Bot pe lettres bileved ful large upon plaster. 1549
Sone so t>e kynge for his care carping my3t wynne,
He bede his burnes bo3 to, f>at wer bok-lered,
To wayte pe wryt f>at hit wolde, and wyter hym to say, 1552
1524 MS. Is, cf. If, 692 . — 1542 MS. lers. — 1546 MS. strof, as
M. notes. — 1551 M. were.
Digitized by L^ooQle
58
Purity
Tor al hit frayes my flesche, pe fyngres so grymme/
Scoleres skelten {>eratte pe skyl for to fynde,
Bot f>er watz never on so wyse cou{>e on worde rede,
Ne what ledisch lore ne langage nauf>er, 1556
What tyj^yng ne tale tokened }>o dra3tes.
Eenne pe bolde Baltazar bred ner wode,
And [b]ede pe cete to seche segges J)ur3out
Pat wer wyse of wychecrafte, and warki^es o[>er 1560
Pat con dele wyth demerlayk and devine lettres.
‘Calle hem alle to my cort, po Calde clerkkes,
Unfolde hem alle pis ferly pat is bifallen here,
And calle wyth a hi3e cry : “He pat pe kyng wysses, 1 564
In expounyng of speche pat spredes in f>ise lettres,
And make pe mater to malt my mynde wythinne,
Pat I may wyterly wyt what pat wryt menes,
He schal be gered ful gaye in gounes of porpre, 1568
And a coler of cler golde clos umbe his J>rote ;
He schal be prymate and prynce of pure clergye,
And of my {>revenest lordez pe j)rydde he schal,
And of my reme pe rychest to ryde wyth myselven, 1572
Outtaken bare two, and {>enne he pe t>rydde.” ’
Pis cry watz upcaste, and f>er comen mony
Clerkes out of Caldye pat kennest wer knauen,
As pe sage sathrapas pat sorsory couf>e, 1576
Wychez and walkyries wonnen to t>at sale,
Devinores of demorlaykes t>at dremes cowJ)e rede,
Sorsers, and exorsismus, and fele such clerkes;
And alle pat loked on pat letter as lewed pay were, 1580
As pay had loked in J>e lef>er of my lyft bote.
Eenne cryes pe kyng, and kerves his wedes.
What ! he corsed his clerkes and calde hem chorles,
To henge pe harlotes he he3ed ful ofte; [ 83 a]
So watz pe wy$e wytles, he wed wel ner. 1585
1559 MS. ede; M. [b]ede. — 1566 MS., M. make; B. would read
makes. — 1583 MS., M. chorles ; Fi. corles.
Digitized by ^ooQle
59
Purity
Ho herde hym chyde to \>e chambre j)at watz {>e
chef quene.
When ho watz wytered bi wy3es what watz \>e cause,
Suche a chaungande chaunce in }>e chef halle, 1588
Ee lady to lauce J)at los f>at j)e lorde hade,
Glydes doun by \>e grece and gos to f>e kyng ;
Ho kneles on \>e colde er\>e, and carpes to hymselven
Wordes of worchyp wyth a wys speche. 1592
‘Kene kyng/ quod {>e quene, ‘kayser of urj>e,
Ever laste \>y lyf in lenj>e of dayes!
Why hatz \>ou rended \>y robe, forredles hereinne,
Ea3 J)ose ledes ben lewed lettres to rede, 1596
And hatz a ha{)el in \>y holde, as I haf herde ofte,
Eat hatz t>e gostes of God J>at gyes alle soJ)es?
His sawle is ful of syence, sa3es to schawe,
To open uch a hide t>yng of aunteres uncowJ)e. 1600
Eat is he }>at ful ofte hatz hevened \>y fader
Of mony anger ful hote wyth his holy speche.
When Nabugodenozar watz nyed in stoundes,
He devysed his dremes to l>e dere trawf>e, 1604
He kevered hym wyth his counsayl of caytyf wyrdes ;
Alle }>at he spured hym in space he expowned clene,
Eur3 J)e sped of f>e spyryt ]>at sprad hym wythinne
Of \>e godelest goddez f>at gaynes aywhere. 1608
For his depe divinite and his dere sawes,
Ey bolde fader Baltazar bede by his name,
Eat now is demed Danyel of derne coninges,
Eat ca3t watz in f>e captyvide in cuntre of Jues; 1612
Nabuzardan hym nome, and now is he here,
A prophete of J)at province and pryce of f>e worlde.
Sende into \>t cete to seche hym bylyve,
And Wynne hym wyth f>e worchyp to wayne \>e bote; 1616
1589 M . lauce; M. note lance(?); Fi. suggests layte(!). — 1595
MS. for redles; M . 1 for-redles; M . 2 for redles. — 1610 MS., M.
by; M. note be(?).
Digitized by i^ooQle
6o
Purity
And f>a3 f>e mater be merk [>at merked is 3ender,
He schal declar hit also as hit on clay stande.’
Pat gode counseyl at j)e quene watz cached as swyf>e ;
Pe burne byfore Baltazar watz bro3t in a whyle. [ 83 b]
When he com bifore £>e kyng and clanly had halsed, 1621
Baltazar umbebrayde hym, and ‘Leve sir/ he sayde,
‘Hit is tolde me bi tulkes ]>at f>ou trwe were
Profete of J>at provynce [>at prayed my fader, 1624
Ande J>at ]xm hatz in \>y hert holy connyng,
Of sapyence f>i sawle ful, sof>es to schawe;
Goddes gost is f>e geven f>at gyes alle f>ynges,
And ])ou unhyles uch hidde [>at Hevenkyng myntes; 1628
And here is a ferly byfallen, and I fayn wolde
Wyt [>e wytte of \>e wryt [>at on J>e wowe clyves,
For alle Calde clerkes han cowwardely fayled.
If {x)u wyth quayntyse conquere hit, I quyte [>e f>y
mede: 1632
For if }>ou redes hit by ry3t, and hit to resoun brynges,
Fyrst telle me \>e tyxte of f>e tede lettres,
And syj>en mater of \>e mode mene me f>erafter,
And I schal halde \>e J>e hest [>at I \>e hy$t have, 1636
Apyke f>e in porpre clot)e, palle al{>erfynest,
And [>e by3e of bry3t golde abowte f>yn nekke,
And ])e [>ryd J>ryvenest [>at J^rynges me after
Pou schal be baroun upon benche, bede I }>e no lasse/ 1640
XHIb. Daniel’s Prophecy
Derfly f>enne Danyel deles {>yse wordes:
‘Ryche kyng of \>is rengne, rede oure Lorde !
Hit is surely soth, Soverayn of heven
Fylsened ever f>y fader and upon folde cheryched, 1644
Gart hym grattest to be of governores alle,
And alle \>e worlde in his wylle welde as hym lykes.
1618 MS., M. stande ; Fi. standez. — 1619 MS., M . 1 as as ; M . 2 as.
— 1634 MS., M. tede; M. Glossary, error for tene (=ten?),
accepted by Fi. — 1646 MS., M. lykes, E. suggests lyked.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Purity
61
Who so wolde wel do, wel hym bityde,
And quos deth so he dezyre, he dreped als fast; 1648
Who so hym lyked to lyft, on lofte watz he sone,
And quo so hym lyked to lay, watz k>3ed bylyve.
So watz noted f>e note of Nabugodenozar,
Styfly stabled f>e rengne bi J>e stronge Dry3tyn, 1652
For of J>e Hy3est he hade a hope in his hert,
I>at uche pouer past out of J>at Prynce even ;
And whyle f>at watz cle3t clos in his hert,
^ere watz no mon upon molde of my3t as hymselven; 1656
Til hit bitide on a tyme, towched hym pryde [ 84 a]
For his lordeschyp so large and his lyf ryche;
He hade so huge an insy3t to his aune dedes,
Pat }>e power of \>e hy$e Prynce he purely fo^etes. 1660
Penne blynnes he not of bias ferny on to blame f>e
Dry3tyn,
His my3t mete to Goddes he made wyth his wordes:
“I am God of j)e grounde, to gye as me lykes,
As he }>at hy3e is in heven his aungeles f>at weldes. 1664
If he hatz formed {>e folde and folk {>erupone,
I haf bigged Babiloyne, bur3 al^erry chest,
Stabled J)erinne uche a ston in strenk{)e of myn armes ;
Mo3t never my3t bot myn make such ano£>er.” 1668
‘Watz not j)is ilke worde wonnen of his mowJ)e,
Er t>enne }>e soverayn sa3e souned in his eres :
“Now Nabugodenozar inno3e hatz spoken,
Now is alle \>y pryncipalte past at ones, 1672
1648 MS., M. dezyre, E. suggests desyred. — 1654 M * J>at ; M .*
[}>]at, but J>, though very faint is still clear in MS. — 1655 Bulbring
( Sch ., p. 184 ) suggests connynge or counseyl after J>at. — 1661 MS.
blasfemyon; M. 1 blasfemy on; M? blasfemyon. — .1664 \> l weldes
is written by second hand, and part of the original handwriting is
still visible under the small 1 of p 1 . — 1669 M. mowJ>e one, but one
in MS. is written at the end of the line in a smaller and different
hand; Fi. (p. 48) perhaps [J>er] watz not J>is ilke worde wonnen
of his mow}>e. — 1672 MS., M. past ; Fi. passed.
Digitized by L^ooQle
6 2
Purity
And jxm, remued fro monnes sunes, on mor most
abide,
And in wasturne walk, and wyth f>e wylde dowelle,
As best, byte on \>e bent of braken and erbes,
Wyth wroj)e wolfes to won and wyth wylde asses.” 1676
Inmydde }>e poynt of his pryde departed he l>ere
Fro t>e soly of his solempnete; his solace he leves,
And car fully is outkast to contre unknawen,
Fer into a fyr fryth f>ere frekes never comen. 1680
His hert heldet unhole, he hoped non ofcer
Bot a best J>at he be, a bol ol>er an oxe.
He fares forth on alle faure, fogge watz his mete,
And ete ay as a horce when erbes were fallen; 1684
Eus he countes hym a kow J)at watz a kyng ryche,
Quyle seven syf>ez were overseyed someres, I trawe.
‘By }>at, mony J)ik thy3e t>ry3t umbe his lyre,
Eat alle watz dubbed and dy3t in {>e dew of heven ;
Faxe fyltered, and felt flosed hym umbe,
Eat schad fro his schulderes to his sch[e]re-wykes,
And twentyfolde twynande hit to his tos ra3t;
Eer mony clyvy, as clyde hit cly3t togeder.
His berde ibrad alle his brest to f>e bare ur{>e,
His browes bresed as breres aboute his brode
chekes ;
Hol3e were his y3en and under campe hores,
And al watz gray as t>e glede, wyth ful grymme
clawres 1696
Eat were croked and kene as \>e kyte paune;
Erne-hwed he watz, and al overbrawden ;
Til he wyst ful wel who wro3t alle my3tes,
And cowt>e uche kyndam tokerve and kever when hym
lyked. 1700
1674 M. 1 expands wasteme; M. 2 wasturne, latter probably cor-
rect. — 1690 MS., M. schyre wykes. — 1696 MS., M. clawres ; Fi.
clawes. — 1697 MS. paune or panne; M. paune; M. note panne (?) ;
Fi. pawe; B. paume; G. reads MS. paune.
1688
1692
[ 84 b]
Digitized by <^o< sle
Purity
63
Penne he wayned hym his wyt, f>at hade wo soffered,
Pat he com to knawlach and kenned hymselven ;
Penne he l[o]ved }>at Lorde and leved in trawj)e
Hit watz non oj)er f>en he ]>at hade al in honde. 1704
Penne sone watz he sende agayn, his sete restored,
His barounes bo3ed hym to, blyf>e of his come,
Ha3erly in his aune hwe his heved watz covered,
And so 3eply watz 3arked and 3olden his state. 1708
‘Bot jxm, Baltazar, his barne and his bolde ayre,
Se3 t>ese syngnes wyth sy3t, and set hem at lyttel,
Bot ay hatz hofen \>y hert agaynes J>e hy3e Dry3t[y]n,
Wyth bobaunce and wyth blasfayme bost at hym kest, 1712
And now his vessayles avyled in vanyte unclene,
Pat in his hows hym to honor were hevened of fyrst ;
Bifore \>e barounz hatz horn bro3t, and byrled J)erinne
Wale wyne to \>y wenches in waryed stoundes. 1716
Bifore \>y borde hatz J)ou bro3t beverage in \>ede
Pat bly^ely were fyrst blest wyth bischopes hondes,
Lovande t>eron lese goddez |>at lyf haden never,
Made of stokkes and stonez f>at never styry mo3t. 1720
And for f>at frojmnde fylj>e, }>e Fader of heven
Hatz sende into f>is sale J>ise sy3tes uncow^e,
Pe fyste wyth f>e fyngeres f>at flayed f>i hert,
Pat rasped renyschly f>e wo3e wyth J)e ro3 penne. 1724
‘Pise ar f>e wordes here wryten, wythoute werk
more,
By uch fygure, as I fynde, as oure Fader lykes :
Mane, Techal, Phares, merked in {>rynne;
Pat ^retes j)e of \>yn un^ryfte upon f>re wyse.
Now expowne J>e J>is speche spedly I t>enk :
Mane menes als much as, maynful Gode
Hatz counted t>y kyndam bi a clene noumbre,
1703 MS., M. laued; M. note loued(?) ; K . (p. 26) loued. — 1711
MS. dry3tn; M. dry3t[y]n. — 1715 M. reads hom, but MS. possibly
intended for hem. — 1722 MS., M. 1 hat3 sende hat3 sende; M. 2
hat3 sende.
1728
[ 85 a]
Digitized by L^ooQle
64
Purity
And fulfylled hit in fayth to \>e fyrre ende. 1732
To teche f>e of Techal, }>at terme t>us menes:
Py wale rengne is wait in we3tes to heng,
And is funde ful fewe of hit fayth-dedes.
And Phares fol3es for Jx>se fawtes, to frayst j)e
traw{>e; 1736
In Phares fynde I forso{>e J>ise felle sa3es:
Departed is f>y pryncipalte, depryved f>ou worses,
Py rengne rafte is t>e fro, and ra3t is \>e Perses,
Pe Medes schal be maysteres here, and j)ou of menske
schowved/ 1740
XIIIc. Belshazzar's End
Pe kyng comaunded anon to clej)e f>at wyse
In frokkes of fyn cloJ), as forward hit asked.
Penne sone watz Danyel dubbed in ful derfe porpor,
And a coler of cler golde kest umbe his swyre. 1744
Pen watz demed a decre bi }>e duk selven :
Bolde Baltaza[r] bed {>at hym bowe schulde
Pe comynes al of Calde f>at to }>e kyng longed,
As to J)e prynce pryvyest preved \>e t>rydde, 1748
He3est of alle ot)er, saf onelych tweyne,
To bo3 after Baltazar in bor3e and in felde.
Pys watz cryed and knawen in cort als fast,
And alle J)e folk {>erof fayn J)at fol3ed hym tylle. 1752
Bot how so Danyel watz dy3t, f>at day over3ede,
Ny3t ne3ed ry3t now wjrth nyes fol mony,
For da3ed never ano^er day j)at ilk derk after,
Er dalt were J>at ilk dome £at Danyel devysed. 1756
Pe solace of f>e solempnete in f>at sale dured
Of t>at farand fest, tyl fayled \>e sunne;
Penne blykned \>e ble of \>e bry3t skwes,
1744 MS., M . 1 elder; M* coler. — 1746 MS. balta3a} M. Bal-
ta3a[r]. — 1747 MS., M . 1 alof; M . 1 note aloft(?); M . 2 a lof; Fi.
al of. — 1759 MS., M. blykned; M. note blaykned( ?), accepted by Fi.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Purity
Morkenes f>e mery weder, and \>e myst dryves
Por3 \>e lyst of t>e lyfte, bi f>e I03 medoes.
Uche ha{>el to his home hy3es ful fast,
Seten at her soper and songen t>eraf ter ;
Pen foundez uch a fela3schyp fyrre at for|) na3tes.
Baltazar to his bedd with blysse watz caryed,
Reche \>e rest as hym lyst, he ros never }>erafter.
For his foes in \>e felde in flokkes ful grete,
Pat longe hade layted }>at lede, his londes to strye,
Now ar {>ay sodenly assembled at \>e self tyme,
Of hem wyst no wy3e t>at in {>at won dowelled.
Hit watz f>e dere Daryus, \>e duk of t>ise Medes,
Pe prowde prynce of Perce and Porros of Ynde,
Wyth mony a legioun ful large, wyth ledes of armes,
Pat now hatz spyed a space to spoyle Caldeez.
Pay f>rongen f>eder in f>e fester on l>rawen hepes,
Asscaped over t>e skyre watteres, and sca[l]ed t>e
walles, 1776
Lyfte laddres ful longe and upon lofte wonen,
Stelen stylly }>e toun er any steven rysed.
Wythinne an oure of \>e [n]y3t an entre j)ay hade,
get afrayed J>ay no freke; fyrre f>ay passen 1780
And to J>e palays pryncipal J>ay aproched ful stylle.
Penne ran J>ay in on a res, on rowtes ful grete ;
Blastes out of bry3t brasse brestes so hy3e,
Ascry scarred on J)e scue J)at scomfyted mony. 1784
Segges slepande were slayne er f>ay slyppe my3t,
Uche hous heyred watz wythinne a hondewhyle;
Baltazar in his bed watz beten to dej)e,
Pat bo{)e his blod and his brayn blende on \>e clones; 1788
The kyng in his cortyn watz ka3t bi f>e heles,
Feryed out bi \>e fete, and fowle dispysed,
Pat watz so do3ty l>at day and drank of \>e vessayl ;
Now is a dogge also dere f>at in a dych lygges. 1792
1776 MS., M. scaled, B. sca[l]ed. — 1779 MS. my3t.
65
1760
1764
[ 85 b]
1768
1772
Digitized by L^ooQle
66
Purity
For }>e mayster of J>yse Medes on }>e morne ryses,
Dere Daryous j)at day dy3t upon trone,
Pat cete seses ful sounde, and sa3tlyng makes
Wyth alle }>e barounz ^eraboute, J>at bowed hym after. 1796
And }>us watz f>at londe lost for \>e lordes synne,
And f>e fylj>e of }>e freke }>at defowled hade
Pe ornementes of Goddez hous f>at holy were maked.
He watz corsed for his unclannes, and cached }>erinne, 1800
Done doun of his dyngnete for dedez unfayre,
And of f>yse worldes worchyp wrast out for ever, [86a]
And 3et of lykynges on lofte letted, I trowe,
To loke on oure lofly Lorde late bitydes. 1804
Pus upon f>rynne wyses I haf yow [>ro schewed,
Pat unclannes tocleves in corage dere
Of |>at wynnelych Lorde ]rat wonyes in heven,
Entyses hym to be tene, tel[des] up his wrake; 1808
Ande clannes is his comfort, and coyntyse he lovyes,
And |)ose J)at seme arn and swete schyn se his face.
Pat we gon gay in oure gere }>at grace he uus sende,
Pat we may serve in his sy3t f>er solace never blynnez.
Amen. 1812
1808 MS., M . telled; M. note telles(?).
\
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NOTES
1-4, ‘He who could fittingly commend Purity, and recount all
the arguments (in her praise) that are justly due her, might find
fair themes to aid his discourse, but in (undertaking) the contrary
(i. e. the praise of Impurity) he would find great difficulty and
trouble/ For ‘rekken up alle }>e resounz/ compare Alex, C 1280,
where Arestes, reporting to Alexander, ‘rekens hym \>t resons/
i. e. ‘gives him an account’ of those that have been slain in battle.
5. >e Wy3 J>at wro3t alle t>mges. For similar periphrases in the
poet’s works, see Introd., pp. xviiff.
7-16. This is the only passage in all the poet’s works where he
alludes to the vices of the clergy; and it should be observed that
even here his condemnation of wicked priests is quite different from
the violent denunciations of the author of Piers Plowman, since he
is careful to contrast impartially the behavior and reward of
righteous priests (12) with the sin of those who are vile and
hypocritical.
9. Cf. Pat. 316: ‘Efte to trede on J>y temple, and teme to J>y
seluen,’ and Erken. 15: ‘He turnyd temples J>at tyme J>at temyd
to J>e deuelle.’
10. reken wyth reverence. Cf. 1318, and Gaw . 251 : ‘And
rekenly hym reuerenced.’
16. loJ>e. M. read bope, but this leaves God and his gere
without any construction; a verb is obviously required, and the
confusion of bo and lo elsewhere (e. g. borde, 452, 467) makes
it certain that the scribe either intended lope or mistook it for
bope. The vile priests ‘hate God and all that pertains to him, and
(consequently) drive him to wrath.’
21. non sca)>e lovied. The combination of negatives in this line
is puzzling; it may be paraphrased, ‘If he were not scrupulous
in his abhorrence (of evil), and (if it were not true that he) loved
no sin, it would be very strange.’
24. Cf. Pat 11 : ‘A3t happes he hem hy3t, & vche on a mede.’
With this whole passage (23-8) should be compared the lines on
the beatitudes, Pat . 9-33.
25 ff. as Ma)>ew recordez. Matt. 5. 8: ‘Beati mundo corde,
quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt.’ After paraphrasing this verse (27-8),
the text on which the whole poem is based, the poet states it con-
versely in 29-30, since he is to develop and illustrate his theme by
contraries, and intends to set forth, not so much the joys that
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await the pure in heart, as the terrible doom that falls upon those
who violate purity. For the doctrine of the Beatific Vision, implied
in these lines, see Osgood’s note on Pearl 675. As Osgood notes,
the poet alludes to it again and again (reverting naturally in Purity
to his text); cf. Pur . 176, 178, 552, 576, 595, 1055, 1112, 1804-12;
Pat 24. 1
32. May not byde J>at bur[n]e J>at hit his body nesen. A diffi-
cult line. M. in his second edition thought that burre, not burne, was
perhaps intended by the scribe, and paraphrased as follows: ‘May
not abide (suffer) that man (?blow), that it ( ?he) should approach
his body.’ The expression (a) byde pe bur occurs, it is true, Pat .
7, Gaw. 290 and 374, but it throws no light on the present passage.
M. found difficulty in reading burne , because he considered it the
antecedent of hit, and interpreted the second pat as a conjunction.
It is really a relative pronoun, which, combined with his, is the
usual means of expressing whose in ME., as in 1109: ‘J>us is he
kyryous and clene J>at J>ou his cort askes’ (for pat . . . his =
whose, see Matzner, Engl. Gram? 3. 549; Kellner, Histor . Outlines
of Engl . Synt., p. 66). Hit does not refer to burne, but to fylpe of
the previous line. The difficulty of construing negen still remains,
and one must either supply an auxiliary verb, ‘whose body it, i. e.
filth, (may) approach,’ or emend to neges or nege. The whole
becomes clear in the light of the context. The poet has just
explained (29-30) that no one attains to the sight of our Lord
who has any taint of impurity. He now gives the reason for this
statement (31-32) : ‘For he J>at flemus uch fylj>e fer fro his hert,’
etc., i. e. ‘Christ, who banishes everything vile far from himself,
cannot endure the man whose body is stained with sin.’ This idea
that no sinner can approach the presence of the Lord because he
is himself spotless in his purity is restated in 1109- 12; cf. 17 ff.
for periphrases similar to ‘he J>at flemus,’ etc., see Introd., pp. xvii ff.
33 - 48 * These lines lead to the introduction of the parable of the
Wedding Feast, and anticipate the situation of the man without a
wedding garment, recounted in due course in 11. 133-60.
40. traschez, defined by Morris (and Stratmann) as ‘trousers,’
was explained by Skeat in 1892 ( Notes on Engl. Etym., p. 305) as
the plural of trash, meaning simply ‘rags.’ NED . plausibly sug-
gests, s. v. trash, that trasches may here mean ‘old worn-out
shoes,’ as in modern dialects, though no other instance of this
meaning has been found before 1746.
41. totez. Skeat in 1892 (see Notes, p. 303) gave the following
explanation of this word: ‘Dr. Morris says that totez is merely a
form of ‘toes,’ which I cannot accept. . . . The word is surely
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the Low G. tote , a peak. Hexham has: *een Tote , a teat; de
Tote van een schoen, the beak or lap of a shoe; een Tote-pot,
a pot with eares,’ &c. Cf. ME. toten, to peep out; his ton toteden
out, his toes peeped out, Piers PL Crede, 425. I translate tote
by extremity or end; the sense is, “the ends (probably of his
toes) peeped out.” ’ I accept Skeat’s explanation, though it seems
to me as probable that the 'ends’ are his elbows, and not his toes,
since his ‘tabarde totorne’ is spoken of in the first half of the
line. NED . quotes the suggestion ‘that totez is a verb (viz. tote,
toot v.), and that toez or totz ‘toes’ has been omitted before it,
the reading being his toez totez oute “his toes peep out,” ’ and
compares the phrase from Piers PL Crede quoted by Skeat (see
above). This explanation is obviously impossible, since ‘his totez
oute’ is one of four parallel descriptive phrases governed by wyth
(40), as 1. 42 shows.
42. he schulde, etc. An anacoluthon. The sentence begins at
1 . 35: ‘What urjdy haj>el . . . wolde lyke if a ladde com,’ etc.,
but by 1. 42 the poet has forgotten that the //-clause which really
ends only with pyse (42) is the object of ‘wolde lyke,’ and he
uses it as the protasis of a condition of which ‘he schulde be
halden utter,’ etc., is the apodosis.
43. mony blame. ‘Many a rebuke’ ; cf. mony anger, 1602, where
a particular exhibition of the general feeling is similarly expressed
by the abstract noun. Such ‘concretion’ of abstracts is common
in all periods of the language (see Einenkel, Paul's Grundriss 1
1. 1137, § 181 k), but blame and anger in this sense have become
obsolete, though we still say ‘he fell into a rage,’ i. e. a ‘fit of rage,’
as anger, 1602, is a ‘fit of anger.’
a boffet, peraunter. Cf. Gaw . 2343: *3if I deliuer had bene, a
boffet, paraunter.’
48. in talle ne in tuch. M. suggested emending talle to tuly,
and glossed tuch as ‘cloth’ = Mod. Engl, tuck . Skeat’s explana-
tion is probably correct: ‘I take this to mean: “though he should
never again do wrong either in tale or in touch,” i. e. by word
or deed. I see no difficulty, especially when we notice the curious
uses of touch in Sir Gawain and the Grene Knight [120, 1301, 1677]
by the same author, and further note that, in that poem, the words
tale and touch are alliterated, 1 . 1301.’ — Notes on Engl. Etym., p. 289.
49. wor[d]lych. I have adopted M.’s suggestion of ‘worldly’
here, since a contrast is certainly intended with the ‘hy3e kyng’ in
the next line (cf. ‘urj>ly haj>el,’ 35) ; M.’s spelling, however, is
unnecessary, as the dropping of the l is extremely common in
ME. ; see, e. g., Piers PL Crede 784, Sege of Jer . 1226, and glossary
of Alex . C.
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50. in [heven], This seems to me a less violent emendation
than M/s suggestion of herin euen for MS. in her euen, since any
slight accidental mark might have been mistaken by the scribe
for the abbreviation for -er, and so expanded. For the expression,
cf. 1664; Pat 257.
51. as Ma>ew melez. The story of the Parable of the Wedding
Feast (51-162) is a combination of the versions given by Matthew
22. 1-14 and Luke 14. 16-24 (see Appendix for these passages).
The excuses given by those invited (61-72), the lord’s commanding
his servants to gather in the wayfarers a second time (93 ff.) , and
the description of them (100 ff.), are given only in Luke; and the
account of the maltreatment of the lord’s messengers and his
slaying of the guests first invited (Matt. 22. 6-7) is omitted, as
in Luke. But several details, for example 1 . 84, and the whole
passage (125-162) about the man without a wedding garment, are
given only in Matthew.
in his masse. Cf. Pearl 497 : ‘As Mathew mele3 in your messe.’
This is a curious instance of the manner in which a word comes to
be used in an extraordinary sense for the sake of alliteration.
In Pat. 9-10, the poet wrote: ‘I herde on a halyday at a hy3e masse
How Mathew melede’; but here, as in The Pearl , he uses mass
of that portion of Matthew’s gospel which he heard read at ‘mass,’
or simply as ‘gospel.’
59. ryyt to }>e sete. This cannot be ‘seat,’ and is hardly likely
to be an error for fete . It is possible that it is a noun correspond-
ing to ME. sete, adj., meaning ‘wholesome, appetizing’ (cf. Gaw .
889: ‘Sere sewes & sete, sesounde of J>e best’); the phrase would
then mean ‘appetizingly.’
66. 3at. This curious form, which has not been noticed because
Schwahn overlooked it in his study of the verbs of these poems,
is apparently intended as a past part, of gete — ‘I have desired and
obtained yokes of oxen.’ The only way I see of explaining it is
to assume that it is by analogy to a pret. 3 sg. form *gat, but
even this form is unrecorded (see Bulbring, Geschichte der Ablaute
der Starken Zeitworter inner halb des Siidenglischen, pu 67; Quellen
u. Forschungen 63), though it occurs in the compounds, e. g. format,
bigat, undergat (Bulbring, p. 12, and passim ). For such a trans-
ference of the pret. sg. form to the past part., iwan in Layamon
might be compared (cited by Bulbring, p. 121). Formally it would
be easier to associate gat with the ME. wk. verb gate, ‘grant,
assent,’ from OE. geatan, ON. jatta (see Matzner s. v. gaten ) ;
but the meaning of the words forbids. Since writing this note, I
have found that Kolbing interprets a form gat, Sir Tristram 330,
as pret. 3 sg. of gete. For the form gete, see note on 842.
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Notes
7i
69. so wer hym. M. printed sower, and suggested swer, but
as this is plainly impossible because the alliteration is w, Fischer
proposed so werp, and Bateson so werned, ‘refused/ though he
also suggests so weres . There is no need of emendation, since
wer occurs, Pearl 205, as pret. 3 sg., and makes excellent sense:
‘thus the third defended, i. e. excused, himself/
71. dro3 hem adre3. ‘Drew back/ the line paraphrasing Matt.
22. 5: ‘Illi autem neglexerunt et abierunt/ The phrase is very
common in the alliterative poetry in the meanings ‘draw back,
withdraw*; ‘delay*: Gaw. 1031; Morte Arth. 3968, 4219; Destr.
Troy 10043, 11647; Awnt . Arth. 513; York Play No. 35 (Cruci-
fixio Christ i ), 1. 2.
76. wylle gentyl. M. paraphrased: ‘More to blame is their
fault, than any forlorn gentile/ referring to wylle of wone, ‘astray
from human habitations/ etc., but, though ME. zvylle, ‘wandering,
astray* (from ON. villr) is not unusual, this explanation seems far-
fetched, since we should hardly expect the expression ‘her wrange*
to be contrasted in blameworthiness with a person. It is preferable
to consider wylle the noun and gentyl the adjective, and paraphrase:
‘their wrong is more to blame than any heathen rage.* For the
meaning of wylle, cf. Morte Arth. 3836: ‘And for wondson and
will al his wit failede/ where Holthausen defines ‘Wut’ in glossary;
for gentyl, adj., meaning ‘heathen, pagan/ cf. 1432, and NED.
The word-order, noun + adjective, is very common, e. g. com -
braunce huge, 4; sete ryche, 37; schrowde feble, 47; man ryche,
51; etc.
85. ‘Then those who guarded the country went hither and
thither/ literally, ‘went and came*; pay is the antecedent of pat;
the separation is common, cf. 61, 123, 889, 891, 985, and 1067-8.
92. See note on 114.
101. forlotez. This word is not recorded in the dictionaries,
probably because M. suggested that it was a mistake for forlete2 ,
‘forsake.* Bjorkman ( Scand . Loan-Words 1. 91) rightly included it
among the ME. derivatives of OW. Scand. lata, meaning here
‘omit.’
106. M. placed the comma after denounced me, defining
‘renounced me/ but this interpretation is unlikely for three reasons :
(1) the pause comes in an unnatural place from the metrical point
of view; (2) the lord would hardly limit his determination not
to entertain the faithless guests so emphatically to ‘no3t now at
J>is tyme/ implying thus that he might entertain them at some other
time; (3) denounce nowhere else has the meaning renounce (see
NED. which, misled by M/s punctuation, gives this single instance
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with a question). Thomas ( Alliterierende Langzeile des Gawayn-
Dichters, p. 9), because of the first objection, suggested placing
the comma after nogt, and defined denounce = ‘sich fur jetqand
erklaren’; similarly Gollancz (Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 152). Some
such meaning must be assumed, since the word always means
‘declare, announce, proclaim’ in ME. (and OF.). The passage
might be paraphrased: ‘For certainly these men who have refused
my invitation and made no proper announcement to me (Gollancz:
have nowise proclaimed me) at this time, shall henceforth never
sit in my hall to partake of my feast.’ This makes now intel-
ligible, and puts it in proper contrast with never of the next line,
the invited guests by this one refusal forfeiting the lord’s hospitality
for ever. The phrase now at pis time is not uncommon; it occurs
Wm. of Palerne 484; Destr. Troy 5615.
108. suppe on sope. ‘Taste one sup.’
1 14. ay pe best byfore. The fact that the guests are here seated
according to rank, leads Osgood to remark (Pearl, p. xl) that the
orthodox view of the gradation of heavenly awards is here clearly
implied, and that the doctrine of the equality of reward, expounded
so unmistakably in Pearl 421-719, must therefore be a later devel-
opment in the poet’s theological ideas. This conclusion is hardly
justified, since there is no reason for thinking that the poet had
any of the theological implications of the parable in mind in this
purely narrative passage. When he comes to the interpretation
of the parable (161-176), he makes nothing of this distinction of
rank. We might expect such lines in the account of any elaborate
feast where young knights and squires (86-7), as well as common
people (ioiff.), were present. So in Gazvain, at King Arthur’s
feast the guests seated themselves: ‘pe best burn© ay abof, as hit
best semed’ (73). Cf. also Pur . 92: ‘As he watz dere of degre
dressed his seete’ with Gaw. 1006: ‘Bi vche grome at his degre
graypely watz serued.* Finally, even if one were tempted to extract
the poet’s theological conceptions from this passage, it would be
as easy to deduce the poet’s belief in the equality of heavenly
rewards from 113: ‘Wheper pay wern worpy oper wers, wel wem
pay stowed,’ and 120 : ‘And 3et pe symplest in pat sale watz served
to pe fulle,’ as it would be to deduce his belief in their inequality
from the other parts of the passage.
1 17. soerly. M. emends to soberly, which NED. does not give
as an adjective; Emerson (Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass . 34. 496) sug-
gested serly, ‘severally, individually.’ But the word is certainly the
adjective from ON. saurligr, ‘unclean,’ corresponding to the ME.
sore, sorge, meaning ‘filth,’ (NED. s. v. sore, sb.*), from ON. saurr,
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Notes
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possibly ON. saurgan, ‘filth, mucT ; emendation is unnecessary
(unless perhaps to soorly). This adjective could very properly be
used to describe the men who sat below, in contrast to those above
that ‘dubbed wer fayrest’ (115) ; a few lines further on ( 1 19)
the poet says there were few ‘clene men in compaynye.’ The
word sorge and its derivatives occur elsewhere in the poems of
this group. Gollancz adopts the suggestion of Ekwall {Engl. Stud.
44. 171) and Emerson (Mod. Lang. Notes 28. 176) that sorge
means ‘filth’ in Pat. 275, where Jonah
Stod vp in his stomak, pat stank as pe deuel;
per in saym & in sor3e pat sauoured as helle,
though Gollancz emends to so[ur]. He compares sour turnes, Pur.
192, perhaps rightly. In Pur. 846 sorge cannot have any other
meaning than ‘filth’; cf. 845, and fropande fylpe, 1721, which cor-
responds exactly to gestande sorge. Moreover, I think that the
adjective itself (from ON. saurligr ) occurs a second time in Pearl
226, where the poet, after speaking of the wondrous pearl on the
maiden’s breast, says:
I hope no tong mo3t endure
No sauer ly saghe say of pat sy3t,
So wat3 hit clene & cler & pure,
pat precios perle per hit wat3 py3t.
Gollancz and Osgood interpret sauerly as ‘savorly,* and Osgood
glosses ‘sweet.’ G. translates:
I trow no tongue might e’er avail
To speak of that sight a fitting word,
and O., in his prose rendering, p. 27: ‘No tongue, I think, could
utter the sweet tale of that vision.’ But this interpretation neces-
sitates a violent wrenching of the meaning of endure, which means
not ‘avail’ or ‘be equal to a task’ (Osgood’s glossary), but ‘suffer,
bear’ (see the various meanings in NED.). Even this unjustifiable
definition of endure as ‘avail’ does not dispel the difficulties of
the above interpretation, since the two lines would then have to
be paraphrased: ‘I think no tongue could avail to say (or be
equal to the task of saying) a sweet (or pleasant) word of that
sight.’ As this would make no sense, G. is obliged to render
sauerly by ‘fitting.’ O. avoids the difficulty in another way by
translating no sauerly saghe, ‘ the sweet tale,’ a translation which
involves an apparently slight, but syntactically impossible change,
since the redundant no can only be indefinite, and equivalent to
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the modern any, a. Translating, then, with due regard to syntax,
and omitting for the moment the word sauerly, the passage would
run : ‘I think that no tongue could bear to say any . . . word of
that sight — it was so clean and bright and pure/ We should expect
some word contrasting with ‘clean’ and meaning ‘base, vile,* and
no word could be more suitable than that found in Pur . 117 as
soerly, spelt here in Pearl sauerly, the u not standing for v, but
being part of the diphthong au. Phonologically this representation
of ON. au is regular, since it appears in ME. as au, ou, or 0 (Bjork-
man, Scand. Loan-Words 1. 68 ff.; generally au or ou in these
poems, Knigge, p. 84). Finally, it may be added that the ME.
derivatives of ON. saurr, etc., may well have been confused with
ME. sore (OE. sdr), ME. sour (OE. sUr) f and it is hard to say
whether such a spelling as sorge is a mere scribal error or due
to folk-etymological confusion with sorge (OE. sorg ). The ME.
sory, adj. (ON. saurigr), which the Promptorium Parvulorum
defines ‘soory, or defowlyd yn sowr or fylj>e . . . , cenosus
cenulentus / (NED. gives only this example) could hardly help being
confused with ME. sorry (OE. sarig ), which often means ‘vile,
wretched’ (see NED., s. v. sorry, 5*).
130. hym. ‘them.’ I have not changed such forms, nor by to
be, 212, etc.
134. Hit watz, etc. For similar clauses, cf. 257, 981.
136. ne no festival frok. We should expect a preposition, with
or in; but perhaps we must supply something like ‘did he have on.’
144. on so ratted a robe. A pleonastic construction, which is
apparently a combination of two idioms: (1) one (a)+so +
adj. — e. g. ‘J>u eaert a swa hende gome,* Layamon, ed. Madden,
1. 162, 1. 13; ‘ane zuo greate emperur,’ Ayenbite of Inwyt, ed.
Morris, p. 100; and (2) the more usual order in Late ME.,
so + a + adj. — as in ‘so gaynly a God,’ Pur. 728. Matzner (Engl.
Gram ? 3. 197) quotes one example of this combination (one + so +
a + adj.) : ‘he yt wan of on so hey a kynge,’ Robert of Gloucester’s
Chronicle 1166 (ed. Wright); but it is interesting that this con-
struction appears in only two manuscripts, the other six having
the more regular ‘on so heie kynge.’
145. ungoderly. This word, which occurs again in 1. 1092, is
not recorded in Bradley-Stratmann, nor is goderly in any of the
dictionaries. The intrusion of the r may perhaps be explained as
a development from godely by analogy with such words as hagherly
(18), and perhaps also with the form goder, which occurs in the
ME. expression goderhele, from OE. (to)gddre h&le (see NED.,
s. v. goderheal ) ; similarly Emerson, Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 510.
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162. J?at fcle am to called. 'Multi enim sunt vocati.* But the
poet does not mention the ‘pauci electi/ since the whole point of
the parable for him is the impossibility of the 'man without a
wedding garment/ the man defiled with sin, approaching God’s
pure presence.
164. filled in font. Cf. Erken. 299 : 'fulloght in fonte’ ; Awnt.
Arth . (Douce MS.) 225: 'folowed in fontestone.’
167. for aproch J?ou. If the text is correct, the sentence is very
badly constructed: we should expect something like 'when you
approach/ Perhaps the meaning is: ‘See to it that your clothes
are clean and fair for the holiday, lest you receive harm, for when
you draw near that Prince of noble lineage (you will find that)
he hates hell no more than those who are foul/ For 1 . 168, cf. 5 77.
169. The interpretations of the 'wedding garmeht’ in the Middle
Ages generally go back either to Augustine, who explained it as
‘Caritas’ (Migne, Patr. Lat . 38. 562), or to Jerome, whose explana-
tion may be quoted entire: 'Vestis autem nuptialis praecepta sunt
Domini, et opera quae complentur ex lege et Evangelio, novique
hominis efficiunt vestimentum. Si quis igitur in tempore judicii
inventus fuerit sub nomine Christiano non habere vestam nuptialem,
hoc est, vestam super caelestis hominis; sed vestem pollutam, id est,
veter is hominis exuvias, hie statim corripitur/— rMigne, Patr . Lat .
26. 160. The interpretation given here in Purity bears some resem-
blance to Jerome’s, but it is without the odor of theological doctrine
implied in the ‘garment of the new man/ and the comparison of
a man’s clothes with his deeds is more direct. Cf. note on 162, and
Introd., p. xl.
192. see hym with syjt This is the only one of the common
pleonasms of the kind, such as 'tell with tongue/ ‘hear with ears/
that the poet permits himself, and this he uses frequently. 'See
with sight (or eyes)’ occurs in Pur . 576, 1710; Pearl 200, 296, 302,
985; Gaw. 197, 226, 1705. For other examples, see Fuhrmann,
Alliterierende Sprach for mein, p. 15.
sour tomez. Probably 'evil devices'; see note on 117.
195. Cf. Erken. 161 : 'Towarde prouidens of J>e prince >at
paradis weldes’; Winner and Waster 296: 'It es plesynge to the
prynce J?at paradyse wroghte’; and Death and Life 13: ‘If thou
haue pleased the prince that paradice weldeth/
201. Bateson ( Mod . Lang. Rev. 13. 378) proposed reading 'Ne
never so sodenly S03t un (=on), soundely to weng/ This is
awkward and unnecessary, as Gollancz shows (ibid. 14. 153), the
word meaning here ‘fatally/ G. compares unsoundyly, Gaw. 1438,
and unsounde, Pat. 58.
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204 ff. After this line M. placed a comma, as though the fall
of Lucifer were intended as an illustration of the Lord's wrath.
But the poet's purpose was just the opposite, a fact which is
extremely important in the structure of the poem, which has often
been unjustly regarded as a series of Biblical incidents loosely
strung together. After enumerating the various sins for which a
man may forfeit the bliss of Heaven (177-192), the poet declares
he has often heard it said that God never took such fierce and
sudden vengeance on men as he did for fleshly sin (193-202) ;
for only in avenging this sin did he abandon his customary demeanor
and become really wrathful (203-4). The stories of Lucifer (205-34)
and of the fall of Adam (235-48) are now introduced as illustra-
tions of acts of vengeance in which God did not become angry.
This is clearly emphasized at the end of the narrative of Lucifer’s
Fall, where the poet says ‘And 3et wrathed not J>e Wy3' (cf. also
215). Similarly, after telling of the result of Adam’s sin, he
states expressly that this act of vengeance was carried out in
moderation , and soon atoned for by means of a spotless maiden
(247-8). But, in contradistinction to these two instances of God’s
vengeance, in the third instance, the destruction of the world by
the Flood because of carnal sin, God showed merciless wrath
(249-50). These last lines, then, continue the thought of 11 . 192-204,
and all that intervenes (204-48) is parenthetical or introductory,
intended to make plain, by way of contrast, that God’s most terrible
vengeance is reserved for those who sin in the flesh.
21 1. tramountayne. ‘North.’ So Milton, Par . Lost 5. 755-7 :
At length came into the limits of the North
They came, and Satan to his royal seat
High on a hill, far-blazing.
The tradition that Lucifer had his seat in the north of heaven, and,
in fact, the whole legend of the fall of Lucifer, was based on
Isaiah 14. 12-3: ‘Quomodo cecidisti de caelo, lucifer qui mane
oriebaris? Corruisti in terram, qui vulnerabas gentes? Qui dicebas
in corde tuo : In caelum conscendam, super astra Dei exaltabo solium
meum, sedebo in monte testamenti in lateribus aquilonis , ascendam
super altitudinem nubiam, similis ero Altissimo.’ This, and other
Biblical passages, such as Luke 10. 18, led to the early formation
of the legend of the fall of the angels, the beginnings of which
may be found in Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory. As Carleton
Brown notes ( Publ . Mod . Lang. Ass. 19. 124), these lines in Purity
repeat directly some of the phrases of Isaiah. For references to
Lucifer in Old and Middle English, see Skeat’s excellent note on
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Piers Plowman C. 2. 105; and for the development of the legend
of Lucifer, see H. Ungemach, Die Quellen der Fiinf Ersten Chester
Plays (Erlangen, 1890), pp. 18 ff.
215. Gollancz {Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 153 ) adopts M/s explanation
that metz = mese (G. mes) f ‘pity/ comparing the verb mese, 764,
and amesying , Pat. 400. I have retained this reading in the text,
though Bateson’s suggestion (ibid. 13. 378) that metz is a scribal
error for meth, had occurred to me also, and seems not unlikely
in view of the other occurrences of meth (mepe) in 247, 436, 565.
222. [s]weved. Though I cannot distinguish the initial s, I
adopt Gollancz’s reading (Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 153), since there is
no instance of defective alliteration with s except at 958, where it
is more easily explicable because of the proper names. G. com-
pares Pat. 253, where the whale ‘swayues to >e se-bobem’; cf.
NED., s. v. swayve.
as J>e snaw bikke. Cf. Fall and Passion 25-8 (ed. Matzner,
Sprachproben, p. 125), where it is said of the false angels:
Seue daies and seue ni3t,
As 3e seeb J>at fallij? snowe,
Vte of heuen hi ali3t
And in to helle wer iJ>row.
223. helle-hole. I have not been able to find any other instances
of this word, which is not recorded by the dictionaries, except in
Erken., where it is used twice (291, 307), and in Death and Life
(386), which shows other traces of imitation of Purity (see Introd.,
p. xxvi).
as J?e hyve swarmez. So Milton, in an elaborate simile, com-
pares the swarming of the devils to ‘bees in spring-time/ Par.
Lost 1. 768-75. The grouping of similes in clusters, as in these
lines (222, 223, and also 226), is a characteristic trick of the poet,
and is used by Miss Thomas (Sir Gaw., p. 12) as a proof of the
common authorship of The Pearl, Gawain, Purity and Patience .
The other instances of this mannerism in Pur. occur at 554, 556;
790, 791; 1018, 1022; 1132, 1134; 1692, 1694, 1696, 1697.
224. forty dayez. The number is due to the alliteration. In
the Fall and Passion (see quotation, 222 n.) the fiends fell seven
days, and in Piers Plowman (B. 1. 119) and Milton (Par. Lost
6 . 871) nine.
225. er . . . ne. This very unusual use of a redundant
negative after er occurs again in 1205 ‘er J>ay atwappe ne mo3t/
which the NED. (s. v. atwape) emends to ‘er bay atwappene mo3t/
That the negative particle cannot be disposed of in this manner is
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plain from this line, where it could not be attached to the preceding
infinitive ( stynt ) as part of the ending. Einenkel discusses
pleonastic ne after verbs of fearing, etc. (Anglia 35. 222 ff.), as in
Chaucer’s translation of Boethius ‘he moot alwey ben adrad that
he ne lese that thing’ (2. prose 4. 1 . 113, ed. Skeat) ; but students
of syntax, and the NED., which does not even record the pleonastic
ne discussed by Einenkel, do not seem to have noted the construc-
tion after er. Though it is possible that this use of ne developed
independently in English, it is very likely that the poet borrowed
it from Old French, where, as in modern French, avant que . . .
ne was a common construction (see Tobler, Vermischte Beitrage
4. 45 f.). It should be noted that in each case the ne appears before
mygt (mogt). Cf. also the ne of Pat . 231 : ‘He watz no tytter out-
tulde J>at tempest ne sessed.* Cf. Bateson, Mod. Lang . Rev. 13. 379,
who cites an instance from Caxton.
226. smylt mele. ‘Strained meal.’ I believe that smylt is the
past part, of an OE. *smyltan (OM. *smeltan ) used here in the
sense of ‘filter through.* The original meaning of the Germc.
stem *(s)melt is ‘disintegrate, dissolve’ (Falk u. Torp., Norweg.-
Dan. Etym. Worterb., s. v. smelte ; cf. Kluge, s. v. schmelzen;
Skeat, Etym. Diet., s. v. melt, smelt). This sense of ‘breaking
into pieces’ may be traced in various ways in melt: Wright-
Wiilcker, Vocabularies 235. 33, has ‘Fatiscit, . . . dissolvitur, . . .
mylt’; cf. Pur. 1566, where NED. defines ‘filter in’ (see other
example^ in NED., s. v., melt, v., esp. 2 and 5). NED.*s earliest
example of smelt, except for the part. adj. smelt = ‘enamelled,’
Destr. Troy 1667, is dated 1543, but this is in the specialized modern
meaning, which is certainly a late borrowing from Scandinavia
or the continent. Smylt, of which the NED. gives only this instance,
without etymology, defining ‘?fine,’ is the native word (only the
derivative smilting in the specialized meaning ‘amber’ occurs in
OE.). It is possible that smult, for Avhich the NED. quotes, without
definition, only ‘With a smorther and a smoke smult through his
nase,’ Destr. Troy 91 1, is the same word, here meaning ‘break
through.’ For the general meaning of the word the derivatives
of the Germc. *(s)mel may be compared, e. g. Sw. mula, crumb;
Mod. Engl. dial, in smill, in pieces (see Wright’s English Dialect
Diet., s. v. smuil).
228. Schumacher’s emendation of zvorlde to erpe is unnecessary,
as we may here have transverse alliteration ; cf. Introd., p. lvii.
230. This line has offered great difficulty to the commentators.
M. translated pe wreck sagtled ‘appeased the vengeance,’ as though
wreck = wrache ; but the next line shows that wreck must refer
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Notes
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to Lucifer. Bateson {Mod. Lang. Rev. 13. 379) suggested that
wrathed meant ‘repented/ though such a meaning (or word) is
unrecorded; Gollancz (ibid. 14. 154) would emend to wroth , and
paraphrase ‘and yet the creature (i. e. Satan) turned not/ but this
stretching of the sense of ‘writhe’ would be unparalleled. The
passage becomes clear without emendation if we take wyg as a
reference not to Satan, but to God. God is called wyg also in
5, 280; cf. Pat. hi, 206. The lines may be paraphrased: ‘And
yet God did not become angry, nor did the wretch (Satan) ever
become reconciled, nor would he ever acknowledge, because of
wilfulness, his worthy God/ For a similar confusing change of
subjects, cf. 1229-30 and note. On the significance of God’s not
being angry, the point which the commentators miss, see note on
204. Emerson (Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 499) also explains wyg
as God, and pe wreck as Satan, but he, too, misses the point of
wrathed.
233. M. paraphrases: ‘Wherefore, though the blow were smart,
the sorrow was little.’
235. J>at oJ>er wrake: ‘the second vengeance/ for Adam’s sin.
Cf. the passage in Pearl 637-45:
Ino3e is knawen bat mankyn grete
Fyrste wat3 wro3t to blysse parfyt ;
Oure forme fader hit con forfete
pur3 an apple bat he vpon con byte ;
A1 wer we dampned for bat mete
To dy3e in doel out of delyt,
And syben wende to helle hete,
perinne to won wythoute respyt.
Bot per oncom a bote as-tyt.
241. Cf. Spec. Gy de Warewyke 229-30:
Ac burw eging of be fend and Eue
He dede a sinne bat gan him greue,
And Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale 842-3:
Sooth is that thurgh wommannes eggement
Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye.
242. enpoysened alle peplez. Cf. the strikingly similar phraseol-
ogy of Erken. 294-6 (quoted by Knigge, p. 6, as proof of unity of
authorship) :
Dwynande in be derke dethe, bat dy3t vs oure fader,
Adam, oure alder, bat ete of bat appulle
pat mony a ply3tles pepul has poysoned foreuer;
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and also Death and Life 273:
And plucked them of the plant and poysoned them both.
248. Cf. Erken . 298: ‘Bot, mendyd w 1 a medecyne, 3e are made
for to lyuye.’
251 ff. The poet gives the usual explanation of the cause of
the Flood — unchastity among mankind. In the light of other
mediaeval accounts, it is probable, according to Emerson ( Legends
of Cain ; Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 21, 901), that the fende (269),
originally the filii Dei, here represent the evil descendants of
Seth, and the defter of pe doupe (270), the daughters of Cain
(the films hofninum of the Bible). From their evil intercourse
sprang the giants (272). The traditional interpretation is well
stated by Peter Comestor: ‘Moyses dicturus de diluvio praemisit
causam ejus dicens, Cumque coepissent homines multiplicari super
terram viderunt filii Dei, id est Seth, religiosi, filias hominum, id
est de stirpe Cain, et victi concupiscentia acceperunt eas uxores ,
et nati sunt inde gigantes. . . . Potuit etiam esse, ut incubi
daemones genuissent gigantes/ — Historia Scholastica, De causa
diluvii (Migne, Patr . Lat. 198. 1081). For further details of the
development of the legend, and for other accounts in Old and
Middle English, Professor Emerson’s interesting study^ cited above,
should be consulted.
256. lengest lyf in hem lent. A common alliterative formula;
cf. Pat. 260, and Fuhrmann, pp. 54-5.
257-61. ‘For they were the first progeny that the earth produced,
the sons of the noble ancestor called Adam, to whom God had given
every advantage and all the innocent bliss that a mortal might
possess, and those who followed next after him (were) just like
him (their ancestor) ; for that reason, none since* that time have
been so fair to look upon.’ Cf. Gollancz, Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 154.
266-8. Holthausen, in Archiv 106. 349, compared Comestor’s
‘exarserunt homines in alterutrum coeuntes* (Migne, Patr. Lat.
198. 1081), as the probable source of these lines. On Comestor as
a possible source, cf. note on 660 and Introd., p. xxxix.
280. bygynnez. Cf. 947. On begin without a complement, see
Kolbing’s note on Ipomadon 15.
284. as wyje. It is perhaps noteworthy that the poet expressly
states that God grieved as man, since such an implication of human
feeling was generally explained away by the commentators. Alcuin
says of this passage: ‘Non Deum de facto suo pcenitet, nec dolet
sicut homo’ ( Interrog . in Gen. 99: Migne, Patr . Lat. 100. 527).
Augustine even declares that the better reading is recogitavit, not
pcenituit (Migne, Patr. Lat . 34. 487).
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Notes
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287. al >at flcsch wcrcz. Vulg. ‘omnem carnem/ Gen. 6. 17.
Similarly ‘omnem animam viventem/ Gen. 8. 21, is represented by
‘al J?at lyf habbez/ 308 (cf. 325), or ‘al J>at is quik/ 324. Cf. Gaw .
52: ‘J>at ever lyf haden/ Other phrases beginning with ‘al J>at'
occur in the description of the Flood at 289-90, 303, 408, 431-2.
299. Parallel alliteration; for Examples, see Introd., p. lvi.
303. A good example of the remarkable interweaving of the
Biblical phrases. To finis universes carnis (Gen. 6. 13) is added
omne quod movetur super terrain (Gen. 7. 14) which belongs to
the description of the entrance of the animals into the ark, a
passage omitted by the poet. For a similar line, cf. note on 307.
304. Is fallen forJ> wyth my face. This translates Gen. 6. 13,
‘venit coram me.’ Forper here means ‘hasten/
307. strenkle my distresse. The use of the word strenkle,
‘scatter/ and the phrase ‘boJ>e ledez and londe' of the next line,
would seem to show that the poet has in mind ‘ego dispersam eos
cum terra/ Gen. 6. 13, though the last part of this line follows
Gen. 6. 7. It may be that we should read wyth for my, which
would make strenkle and strye parallel, and al the object of both;
cf. ‘watz disstryed wyth distres/ 1160, i. e. ‘by force, with violence/
The abbreviation for wyth might easily be mistaken for my, espe-
cially as me occurs directly above the word. But it may be that
the use of the word strenkle is a mere psychological reminiscence
of the phraseology of Gen. 6. 13, and does not reflect the meaning
of disperdam eos, etc. The text, as it stands, would then have to
mean ‘I shall dispel my grief, and destroy all/ etc.
310. a ccifer. The ark is again so called at 339, 492. The word
is also applied to the ark of God, and the ark in which Moses was
laid (see NED.). Other remarkable names for Noah's ark are
kyste ( 346 , 449 , 464 , 478 ); lome ( 314 , 412 , 443 , 495 ; cf. Jonah’s
boat, so called Pat. 160 ) ; gyn ( 491 ). The last name is applied to
Noah's ark in the Towneley Plays ( 3 . 128 ) and to Jonah's boat in
Patience ( 146 ).
31 1. for wylde and for tame. Cf. 362. This is a formal phrase
not based on the Biblical passage, and introduced to fill out the line,
like ‘and J>at is my wylle/ 309. In general, the translation of God's
directions for building the ark is, characteristically, almost word
for word. Carleton Brown contrasts it with the brief account in
Genesis and Exodus, and the curious reduction of the dimensions
of the ark in Cursor Mundi ( Publ . Mod . Lang. Ass. 19. 122-3).
318. upon. ‘Open/ as in 453, 882.
330. wedded wyf. See Fuhrmann, p. 66. . This phrase has
come down to us in the marriage ceremony, which embodies many
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82 Purity
very ancient alliterative formulas, e. g. ‘to have and to hold’
(Fuhrmann, p. 28).
333. J>at berez lyf. Cf. 1023, and Gaw. 1229: ‘with alle J>at
lyf here/ In 1023 the phrase translates Mandeville’s ‘q’ad en luy
vie/ which the author of the Cotton MS. version of Mandeville
renders in the same way, ‘that berethe lif in him* (ed. Halliwell,
p. 100), while the Northern translation (Egerton MS.) has . ‘na
quikk thing’ (ed. Warner, p. 50). Caxton uses the same phrase
in his account of the Flood: ‘Alle J>at euer bare lyf’ ( Golden
Legend , ed. Ellis, 1. 114). The phrase bear life , which is not
mentioned in NED., does not occur in OE., nor is there apparently
anything exactly corresponding in ON. or OF.
348. As E. Kock notes ( Angl . 26. 368), ‘as thou didst lend me
wit’ does not mean ‘gavest me instruction, directest me,’ as Skeat
and Morris explain in their notes to the Specimens of Early
English , but rather ‘as far as thou hast given me power to
understand/ ‘as well as I could.’
359* [n]y3[t]. MS. myg; M. printed niyg[t], but the i is not
distinguished by the mark usually written above it when following
n or m, and the scribe probably merely made an extra accidental
stroke, as also in Gaw . 929, where Gollancz still prints niygt.
363-434. These lines are expanded from Gen. 7. 17-24, with
much elaboration of the details, and several additions of the poet’s
own invention, such as the terror of those overtaken by the flood
(373-404) » and the picture of the ark at the mercy of the winds
(415-24). The passage should be compared with the excellent
storm-scene in Pat. 137-56, and those in Destr . Troy 1983-2020,
3688-714, 4625-36, 9636-43, 12495-518; Sege of Jer . 50-70; and the
portents at Alexander’s birth, Alex. C . 551-68. The passages in
Destr. Troy are striking in detail, though somewhat repetitious;
but no poet of the alliterative school has written anything com-
parable to the swift and sustained narration of the wild flight of
those vainly endeavoring to escape the rising waters of the flood.
364. wod stremez. Cf. Pat. 162: ‘And euer . . . wodder
J>e stremes.’
367. clustered clowde. Cf. 951.
375. wylger. Skeat, in the glossary to Specimens of Early
English, says that the word is apparently an error for wylder. But
this is unlikely, since the word occurs in the Metrical Homilies,
ed. Small, p. 61, 1 . 7, which M. had quoted in his edition: ‘And
gert them the builders of the town of Babel thair wilgern werk.’
The existence of the word therefore seems to be established, even
though the other two manuscripts of the Homilies read wyld and
wilful respectively.
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Notes
83
376. dowelled. See glossary for other instances ; also Gaw . 566.
This intrusion of a vowel before r and w is common in this MS.;
see Osgood’s note on Pearl 11, and Knigge, p. 55.
377. feng to J?e fly3t Cf. 457-
381. Cf. Pat. 220 : ‘Bot al wat3 nedles note/
391. to J>e hy3« runnen. Cf. Gaw. 1152: ‘Hi3ed to J?e hy3e/
394. Recoverer of J?e Creator. The editors of the Specimens
explain as ‘recoverer (saviour) of )?e creature’ (!), a note that
must have been written by Skeat, since M. in his glossary had
defined recoverer correctly as ‘recovery’ (see NED. for examples).
The word is not a vocative, but the object of cryed. ‘They besought
rescue from the Creator.’
395. J>e mase. MS. pe masse pe mase. The manuscript reading
is certainly a dittograph, since it makes the line too long; but the
meaning remains doubtful. If masse could be interpreted as
‘mountain,’ it would be possible to explain pat as a relative conj.,
and translate ‘each one that ascended the mountain.’ But it seems
more reasonable to interpret pat as ‘so that,’ and accept mase as
the correct reading, following the suggestion of Professor Child
(quoted by Morris). We should then paraphrase ‘so that the state
of confusion increased.’ In either case the transition to his mercy
watz passed is extremely abrupt, as we should expect some
adversative conjunction, such as ‘but.’
408. alle J>at spyrakle inspranc. This translates Gen. 7. 22:
‘Cuncta, in quibus spiraculum vitae est.’
425-8. The date of the Flood, which is given at the beginning
of the Biblical account (Gen. 7. 10-11), is transferred by the poet
to the end, and connected with the statement of the duration of the
Flood in 429 (Gen. 7. 24).
433-4. Two difficult lines, of which four explanations have been
offered. (1) Skeat paraphrased; ‘that the remnant that the rack
drives were glad that all kinds of animals, so well lodged, were
safely kept inside.’ This makes good sense, but his explanation of
rogly as ‘peaceful, comforted, merry, glad’ is forced, even if the
word could be connected with Swed. rolig, ‘pleasant, calm,’ OE.
rdw , ‘sweet,’ as he suggests. (2) Bateson paraphrases: ‘So that
the relic (from the flood) that the rack drives about, within which
all kinds thus lodged were assembled together, was in dire straits.’
According to Bateson, rogly = ‘rough’ (cf. roghlych. Pat. 64),
but with this interpretation, the lines follow the preceding less
naturally as a result, since 431-2 refer simply to the drowning of
all living creatures, and not to the fury of the storm. (3) Gollancz
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Purity
paraphrases : ‘That was rough for the remnant that the rack
drives, so that all the species, thus lodged, were mixed up pell-mell
within/ The construction which makes pe remnaunt dative would
be unusual, and Emerson ( Pub l . Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 502) rightly
asks ‘why should it be “rough for the remnant” because of the
loss of life mentioned in the preceding lines ?’ (4) Emerson explains
joyst as a past participle of ME. joissen (cf. rejoissen ), ‘rejoiced,
glad/ and paraphrases the second line ‘within which all species
so happy were joined together/ He remarks that this ‘would seem
to require in rogly some such idea as Morris suggested by con-
jecturing rwly, “sorrowful,” or Skeat who proposed “pleasant,
glad,” as the meaning/ (4) would seem to me the most natural
interpretation, but I think it would be unwise to emend, because
the existence of roghlych, adj., Pat. 64, is a presumption in favor
of rogly, adj., here, however difficult it may be to fit the meaning
to the context.
436. meth. Apparently dependent on mynne, just as though
the verb were not already followed by on his mon.
446. rasse. The same word occurs at Gaw. 1570, and apparently
means ‘top, height/ but it can hardly be connected with mod. dial.
raise , ‘cairn’ (ON. hreysi), as Kullnick thinks ( Studien uber den
Wortschats in Sir Gaw., p. 16).
447-8. ‘Et la delez y ad vn autre montaigne qad a noun Ararach,
mes ly Iuys lappellent Thanez, ou larche Noe se arresta/ — Mande-
ville, ed. Warner, p. 74. Brown points out that the form M ararach
probably resulted from the poet’s following some scribe who had
carelessly run together Mandeville’s noun Ararach; the passage
also explains the reference to the name Thanes.
449. in j>e cragez wer[e] closed. Cf. Ancient Scott. Prophecy
l. EETS. 42. 22, 1. 139: ‘Scho has closede him in A cragge of
cornwales coste.’
452. bynne borde. Cf. Morte Arthur 804: ‘bynne j>e schippe-
burde’ ; Hegge Play of Noah 209, ed. Manly, in Specimens of Pre-
Shak. Drama : ‘with-in my shypp-borde/ The expression ‘within
board/ which is still used, was due to the fact that ‘board’ had
the meaning ‘side(s) of a ship/ the technical sense of ‘on board’
still being ‘close alongside a ship’ (see NED.). But in upon borde,
470, ‘board’ is used for ‘ship,’ as in Elene 238.
453. wafte he upon his wyndowe. A common phrase : ‘Wayue3
vp a wyndow/ Gaw. 1743; ‘weued vp a window/ Wm. of Palerne
2978; ‘wayfez vp a wyndow,’ Alex. C. 945 (Dublin MS.) ; ‘wayuet
[printed waynet] up a window,’ Destr. Troy 676; cf. ‘wayue vp
the wiket,’ Piers Plow. B. 5. 61 1.
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Notes
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459. carayne he fyndez. This had become the customary
explanation of the failure of the raven to return to the ark. The
raven is said to have stopped to feast on a carcass, in both Jewish
and Arabic tradit^n, and in the latter Noah cursed the raven for
this reason (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews 1. 164; Jewish Encycl .
9. 323). Chrysostom gave this explanation (Migne, Patr . Grcec .
53. 234), but I have not been able to find it in Latin writers until
Avitus of Vienne (fl. 500), who interprets the raven’s feasting on
carrion allegorically in his De Diluvio Mundi, 11 . 563-73 (ed. Peiper,
Monumenta Germ . Hist, Auct. Antiquissimi 6, pt. 2, p. 251). The
tradition became popular through Isidore, who knew Avitus, and
may have obtained from the De Diluvio the second of the two
explanations given in the Qucest . in Vet. Test. 26 (Patr. Lat.
83. 233) : ‘Corvus non est reversus, aut aquis utique interceptus,
aut aliquo supernatante cadavere illectus.’ The later commentators
generally follow Isidore, though often giving only the second of his
alternative explanations, e. g. Alcuin (Patr. Lat. 100. 530), Rabanus
Maurus (ibid. 107. 522), Peter Comestor (ibid. 198. 1085). Thus
the legend of the raven’s finding carrion came to be almost an
essential part of the Biblical story; references to it appear e. g.
in Herman of Valenciennes, Histoire de la Bible (see F. Mehne’s
summary in his Inhalt u. Quellen des Bible d. H. de V., Halle, 1900,
pp. 15-6) ; in English, in the earlier Genesis 1447-8; Cursor Mundi
1875-94; Mirk’s Festial, EETS. Ext. Ser. 96, p. 73; and especially
in the mystery plays: Hegge Noah 246; Towneley Noah (No. 3)
499-504; York Noah (No. 9) 225-32. The cursing of the raven
(Pur. 468) is not mentioned in any of the Latin or English works
just cited, with the single exception of the York Noah Play 231-2:
Then be he for his werkis wrange
Euermore weried with-owten ende.
The Cursor Mundi adds to its account the comment (1889-92) that
messengers who delay long on their journey are called ’raven’s
messengers’ because of the raven’s treachery to Noah. The author
of the Old English Adrian and Ritheus (ed. Kemble, Salomon and
Saturn, p. 202) makes the raven’s failure to return to the ark the
cause of its color being changed from white to black. This
explanation of the raven’s color is obviously a Christian adaptation
of the classical story told by Chaucer in the Manciple's Tale, and
Gower in the Confessio Amantis ( 3. 782 ff.), of the raven’s (in
Chaucer the crow’s) white feathers becoming black because it
told of the infidelity of Phoebus’ wife. It should be noted that
Chaucer makes much of the treachery of the bird (271 ff.), a
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86 Purity
characteristic emphasized by the author of Purity (455-6), because
of its faithlessness to Noah.
469. douve. MS. doune. M. assumed the existence of a feminine
word dovene, on the analogy of such feminine forms as vixen;
OE. wylfen, ME. wulvene. But since there is no trace of such a
word elsewhere, it is better to assume that the scribe merely mis-
took a u for an n, and that doveue(t) in 481 is either miswritten
for dowue, the form that occurs in 485, or due to the repetition of
the final ve . *
473. to bot. Morris and Skeat explained as 'to boot/ i. e.
‘for our good/ but if this interpretation were accepted, blysse to
uus alle would have to be construed in apposition to bodworde.
That is impossible, since the apposition of an abstract with a
concrete noun, though not uncommon in Old English poetry, would
be altogether anomalous here. I think bot is simply another
instance of the unvoicing of the final d which occurs so frequently
in this manuscript (see Introd., p. lxi, and Knigge, p. 56) ; i. e.,
bot stands for bod(e) f exactly as dyt for dyd(e) t Pearl 681. The
line would then mean: ‘Bring a message to announce (foretell)
bliss to us all/ For similar lines, cf. Alex . C. 1489: ‘“I bringe
]>e bodword of blis, ser bischop,” he said'; Sege of Jer. 965:
‘Now is me bodeword of blys bro3t froward rome'; Gol. and Gaw.
1 71 : ‘And broght to the bauld king boidword of blis/
484. hit watz ny3e at b« na3t. Trautmann ( Uber . V erf., p. 28)
quotes this and Gaw. 929, ‘hit watz ne3 at be niy3t/ as evidence
of common authorship, since the construction is different in the
other alliterative poems ; cf. ‘it nei3ed ni3t/ Wm. of Palerne 770,
2599; ‘it nied be night/ Alex. A. 817; ‘it neght to be night/
Destr. Troy 672, 1075.
488. Cf. the ‘grene graciouse leues' of Jonah's woodbine, Pat.
453 .
499. Cf. Pat. 63: ‘Goddes glam to hym glod bat hym vnglad
made/ On the importance of this parallel, see Introd., p. xxxvi.
504. bniblande in bronge. Cf . 879 : ‘bus bay brobled and brong/
The word proble is not recorded by NED., though Bradley-Strat-
mann gives these instances (s. v. prublen). It is apparently a
variant of the verb thrumble, ‘crowd together/ of which NED. gives
no earlier example than 1589, from Bruce's Sermons, although the
simple verb thrum, meaning ‘compressed,' is found in Layamon,
ed. Madden, 1. 3, 1. 18.
browen. This past part, means ‘crowded/ as does the part. adj.
prawen, 1775, which M. rightly defined ‘close, thick.' This meaning,
which is not noted in NED., may have arisen from such a use of
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Notes
87
throw as that in 879, where it is coupled with ‘brobled and Kong/
The semantic development would then be ‘rush’ (as in 220, 590),
‘rush together/ ‘crowd/ In the alliterative poetry, kast is the
commoner word for most transitive senses of ‘throw/ while the
word throw itself is used in a great variety of intransitive senses
(see Glossary, and cf. Pearl 875; Pat. 267).
514. Emerson ( Publ . Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 504) would preserve
MS. reading, taking tnayny as an adjective, meaning ‘great,
powerful/
520. [dedes]. MS. synne, inserted above the. line. The allitera-
tion makes it very improbable that the original word was synne,
which was probably inserted by a second hand on the analogy of
for no mannez synnez in 514. It cannot be assumed that the line
is an instance of introverted alliteration: ‘as disstrye al for manez
synne dayez of J>is er]>e/ since s only once alliterates with st
elsewhere in the poem (see Introd., p. lvii, n. 2). I do not think that
it is necessary to supply in before dayez, as does M. ; if anything
else is missing it would be more likely to be al pe, corresponding
to ‘cunctis diebus/ Gen. 8. 22.
521. This line is imitated in Death and Life 248: ‘Waxe fforth
in the word & worth vnto manye/
wor)?ez to monye. Vulg. multiplicamini. Trautmann ( Uber
Verf., p. 28) compares the unusual phrase ‘wor]>e3 to youre3/
Gaw. 1106, 1387; but ‘to no3t wor)>e/ Pat. 360, which he also
adduces, is common, occurring, for example, Ormulum 10960;
Ywain and Gaw. 1642. The construction is OE. (see Einenkel’s
Streifziige durch die Mittelenglische Syntax, p. 21 1).
524. umbre. This word, which M. derived from Lat. imber,
is very probably from AN. umbre, OF. ombre (from Lat. umbra) ;
‘shade’ makes a good contrast to ‘drought/ The phrase umbre
ne drogpe happens to be the poet’s own addition to the series of
contrasted words in Gen. 8. 22 which he is here paraphrasing.
529. skylly skyvalde. Three explanations have been proposed
of this obscure phrase: (1) M. paraphrased: ‘Then was a design
(purpose) manifested (ordered)’; (2) Skeat paraphrased: ‘Then
was a separative (i. e. general) dispersion, when escaped all the
wild animals/ comparing Icel. skilja, to separate, for the meaning
of skylly, and suggesting that skyvalde was connected with Icel.
sktfa, to cut in twain; (3) M. quotes in his glossary Professor
Child’s suggestion that skyvalde may be connected with Somerset
scaffle, to scuffle. M/s explanation is to be preferred to either
(2) or (3). (3) may be disregarded, since the EDD. gives no
such meaning for scaffle, and there would hardly be any possibility
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Purity
of connecting the words phonologically. If the meaning ‘scramble/
which Professor Child apparently h^d in mind, fitted the context,
it might be referred to ON. sky fa, ‘shove, push/ but such a meaning
is unlikely because (a) skylly would make no sense (see below),
(b) ‘shoving* or ‘scrambling* would hardly be used of the birds,
which are mentioned first (529). Skeat*s proposal (2) is very
unlikely, because ON. ski fa really means ‘to splice/ and the
definition of skylly as ‘separative, i. e. general/ is far-fetched.
The use of skyly as a noun in 62 (not noted in NED.) makes it
quite certain that it is also a noun here, and, since skyl is used in
this poem (569, 709) in the sense of ‘ordinance, decree/ Morris*
paraphrase (1) is very plausible, though it is possible that skylly
means ‘separation’: ‘then was a separation devised/ etc. The
derivation of skyvalde still remains obscure, though ultimate con-
nection with ME. skift, ‘ordain, devise* (ON. skipta; cf. OFris.
skiff a) seems probable. In any case, it is clear that skylly must
be a noun (NED. gives no adjective form before 1768), and
skyvalde a verb.
533. wylde wormez. See Introd., p. xxix.
537. hemez. M. is probably right in defining ‘eagles* (OE.
earn, ME. ern, am), though NED. arbitrarily puts all such forms
with initial h under heron, hern. The spelling of OE. earn with
h occurs as early as Layamon’s Brut, where MS. B has hearnes
for MS. A’s arnes (2. 489, 1 . 25). Moreover the first example
which NED. gives for the contracted spelling heme from heron
is probably heme, ‘eagle/ The line is ‘The pauylyon with the golden
herne [two MSS. have erne]/ Rich. Coer, de Lion 2284, ed. Brunner;
but this is surely ‘golden eagle/ like the one which adorned the
pavilion of Lanval’s fairy mistress: ‘Un aigle d’or ot desus mis*
(Lanval 87, Die Lais der Marie de France, ed. Warnke).
549-51. The difficulty of these lines arises from the fact that
so seme needs completion. M. attempted to solve the problem by
inserting ne after pat (550) : ‘there is no one so goodly in his
deeds, that is not impure (in God’s sight) if he is soiled by sin.*
Bateson (Mod. Lang. Rev. 13. 381) connected 549 with the pre-
ceding lines, and translated so seme, ‘so scrupulous (as God)/
making 549 the protasis of the lines which follow it. Gollancz
(ibid. 14. 155) paraphrases:
For no man under the sun is goodly enough in works,
If he be soiled by sin that fits him uncleanly.
But this avoids the difficulty; so seme surely cannot be made to
mean ‘goodly enough/ If we accept the text as it stands, my
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Notes
89
own opinion is that this is another instance of anacoluthon. The
poet says: ‘For there is no man under the sun so goodly in his
deeds, if he is soiled by unclean sin* — and intended to continue
‘that can attain the kingdom of heaven'; but, he breaks off, as
he wishes to emphasize the fact that a very little may keep a man
from the bliss of heaven, and declares ‘a speck of a spot may
cause [such a man] to miss the sight of our Lord/
552. ]>at syttez so hy3e. Cf. 1498.
553-4. ‘In order that I may appear in those bright dwellings,
I must be clean as a burnished beryl/ The omission of the subject
in 553, and of an object for the impersonal byhovez, are peculiar.
Bateson (Mod. Lang . Rev. 13. 381) refers pat to ‘speck of a spot/
and paraphrases ‘For that (spot) shall expose me in those bright
mansions/ connecting this line with the preceding; cf. Emerson,
Publ . Mod. Lang . Ass. 34. 504.
556. Wythouten maskle o]>er mote. Cf. Pearl 726, ‘wythouten
mote o]?er mascle/ and Pearl 843.
557-600. These lines are a transition to the narration of God’s
next act of vengeance for the same sin.
564 ff. These lines repeat the idea of 519-20, and partly reflect
Gen. 9. 11 : ‘Statuam pactum meum vobiscum, et nequaquam ultra
interficietur omnis caro aquis diluvii, neque erit deinceps diluvium
dissipans terram/
569-70. ‘This promise (that God would never again destroy all
flesh) never escaped him, i. e. he never forgot, because of any
wickedness (however great). Nevertheless he did take terrible
vengeance on wicked men afterwards/
574. ]>e venym and ]>e vylanye. Similarly in Pat. 71, God
wishes to avenge himself on the ‘vilanye & venym’ of the people
of Nineveh.
579. hej>yng of selven. Not ‘contempt of God’s self,’ as M.
explained, but ‘scorning (i. e. violating the purity) of one’s body,’
as is clear from 709-10.
581. savor. MS. sauyor. ‘Savior’ is an impossible reading, and
the Latin of the psalm here quoted shows that savor must have
been the original word, translating ‘intelligite’ or ‘sapite’ (see
quotation below). Curiously enough, Hampole uses the very same
word to translate the same verse: ‘The vnwis, withouten kunynge,
and fulis, withouten puruyaunce of the tother warld, that ere in
noumbire of cristen men, vndirstandis and sauyrs this’ (cited in
NED., s. v. savour, v., 12, where other examples of the meaning
‘perceive, apprehend,’ are given). It should also be noted that in
Pat. 121 (quoted below) the poet uses the word feel in translating
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Purity
the same passage. The scribe’s mistake was an easy one to make,
since he had just written save our five lines before. I add the
Vulgate version of the verses on which 11 . 581-6 depend, and also
the passage in Patience where they are again paraphrased: ‘Intel-
ligite, insipientes in populo ; et stulti, aliquando sapite. Qui
plantavit aurem, non audiet? aut qui finxit oculum, non considerat?’
(Ps. 93. 8-9).
O Fole3 in folk, fele3 ober whyle,
& vnderstondes vmbe-stounde, b*3 [3] e be stape foie!
Hope 3e ]>at he heres not J>at eres alle made?
Hit may not bfe J>at he is blynde bat bigged vche y3e.
— Pat. 121-4.
582. babel. ‘ba3 bou bere by self babel,’ corresponds to the
Vulgate stulti, as ‘ba3 bou a sotte lyvie’ corresponds to insipientes.
Babel as an adjective is unusual, and not recorded in the dic-
tionaries. It must be ultimately connected with Lat. babulus, ‘fool,’
though there is apparently no corresponding word in OF. Whether
this babel has any connection with ME. babel, Mod. Engl, bauble,
is difficult to determine, because the origin of OF. ba(u)bel is
itself obscure.
589-90. These lines evidently reflect the first clause of Ps.
93. 1 1 : ‘Dominus scit cogitationes hominum, quoniam vanae sunt.’
The thought may be paraphrased : ‘However cautiously and secretly
a man may work, his thoughts fly swiftly to God even before he
has conceived them.’ pro is undoubtedly the right word in 590 (see
notes on text), as it is a favorite with the poet, and the more usual
meaning ‘eager,’ easily develops into ‘quick, swift,’ as, for example,
in Gaw . 1021.
591. grounde of alle dedez. Cf. York Creation (No. 1) 74:
‘bu gloryus god bat es grunde of all grace.’
592 ff. Rev. 2. 23: ‘Ego sum scrutans renes et corda, et dabo
unicuique vestrum secundum opera sua.’
ring. See Introd., p <. xli.
597 ff. Anacoluthon. ‘But (to speak) of (God’s) judgment on
men for shameful deeds — he abhors that sin so much that he swiftly
scatters (the sinners) ; he may not delay, but slays in haste.’
598. scarrez. The meaning is certainly ‘scatters’ (as also in
838, 1784); cf. such passages as Ps. 58. 12; 88. 11, where the
Psalmist speaks of the Lord ‘scattering’ his enemies (Vulgate
dispergere). NED . quotes this line s. v. scare, v., as its first
instance of the meaning ‘to take fright, to be scared (at),’ a
definition that is obviously impossible here, as the reference is to
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Notes
9i
God. NED . does recognize a verb skair, Orm’s skeggredd, ‘to
scatter’ (‘of obscure origin’), citing under this word a passage
already cited under scare, but this meaning cannot be limited to a
verb with the form skair. Cf. note on 838.
599. draw allyt. Not ‘to draw back a little,’ as M. explained,
but to ‘delay’; allyt is not here equivalent to a lyte, a little, but
to on lyte, ‘with delay,’ or at least the expression has been con-
fused with lyte, ‘delay’ (see NED., s. v. lite) ; cf. on-lyte dr 0 gen,
‘hesitated,’ Gaw. 1463, and on lyte lette, Gaw. 2303.
611. as to God- In this passage (611 ff.), where the angels
are identified with God, and the number suddenly shifted from
plural to singular, most strikingly in 647, the poet is but following
the language of the Bible. Abraham addresses the three men as
Domine (Gen. 18. 3) ; when the angels first speak, the plural is
used, dixerunt (Gen. 18. 5, 9), but later we have Dixit autem
Dominus (Gen. 18. 13). Of this same passage, the Cursor Mundi
says (2707-8) :
Toward him com childir thre
Liknes o god in trinite,
and the author of Piers Plowman uses this instance ‘where god
cam goynge a-thre’ (C. 19. 243) as proof of the existence of the
Trinity. The application of this and other similar Biblical pas-
sages to the doctrine of the Trinity has been expounded by the
fathers, e. g. Ambrose, Patr . Lat . 14. 435 (cf. Cath. Encycl . 15.
49a, s. Trinity).
618. yor fette wer waschene. Fischer proposed substituting for
this unusual expression the equivalent phrase found in 802, ‘yor
fette forto wasche.’ But the poet happens, in this case, to be follow-
ing and translating in a curiously literal manner, a variant of the
Latin text of Gen. 18. 4 which read ‘et laventur pedes vestri,’
instead of the usual ‘et lavate pedes vestros’ (the Greek has
viyf/druffap, variant vi xf/drco, ‘let them (him) wash your feet’). The
Latin reading used by our poet was the one known to Bede (Patr.
Lat. 93. 312), and was adopted in the Sistine edition of the Vulgate
(1590) J lor other instances, see Vercellone, Varies Lectiones Vul-
gates Latincs Bibliorum (Rome, i860) 1. 61a. Both the earlier and
the later Wycliffite versions also follow this reading ‘et laventur,’
etc. : ‘But I schal bringe to a litil mesure of water, and 30ure fete
be wayshid.’
620. to banne yor hertte. ‘Et confortate cor vestrum,’ Gen.
18. 5. M. connected banne with Scotch bawne, ‘fortification,’ and
Gollancz would read baune, ‘fortify’ (see Athen. 1894, 2. 646). The
word may be an aphetic form of enbaned, 1459 ; cf . note on that line.
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Purity
637. mete. M. put a semicolon after this word, thinking it
the object of settez of the preceding line. But this marked enjambe-
ment would be such an anomaly that Thomas proposed putting
mete at the end of the line above (Die Alliterierende Langzeile des
Gawaindichters, p. 8). This is unnecessary, as mete is most
naturally interpreted as an adj., ‘meet, fitting/ modifying messez.
This interpretation, it should be noted, deprives NED. of its earliest
instance of meat in the specific modern sense; the next example
given is dated 1460.
644. Cf. 748, 1699, and ‘God, bat al bis myhtes may/ the opening
line of a well-known hymn (Patterson, Middle Engl. Penitential
Lyric , p. 64).
647. here away. ‘Hither/ as the Latin, ‘revertens veniam ad te/
shows. NED.’s first example is 1400, Wright- Wulcker, Vocabularies,
590. 41. The expressions here away, there away are very common
in modern dialects (see EDD .). Cf. Barbour’s Bruce 10. 32
(MS. E.) :
For gif the king held thar away,
He thoucht he suld soyn vencust be.
For the omission of the verb, cf. 665, and Kellner, Synt., p. 45.
652. 3arked. MS. 3ark. ‘That shall hold in heritage that which
I have prepared for men/ Since M. took gark to be an adj., defining
‘select/ he must have interpreted, ‘in order that I may have chosen
men.’ Though yark, adj., occurs in modern dialects, the single
example in OE. is very doubtful (see Bosworth-Toller, Supplem.
s. v. gearc). In any case, halde in heritage seems to require an
object, which could only be the second pat = ‘ that which.’
656. t[em]e. Emerson ( Publ . Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 506) also
suggests teme for tonne.
659. bene. MS. by ene (eue?). M. suggested bycame, because
‘the sense would require hade before by ene, if byene = ben. f But
perhaps the idea of the pret. auxiliary may be carried over from
the previous line ‘watz hem fayled/ and bycame certainly does not
fit the preceding ay, which seems to require a pluperfect sense.
The poet could not have said Sarah ‘ever became barren.’
660. This line closely resembles Peter Comestor’s comment: ‘Ad
haec, etiam, ipsa sterilis erat’ (Migne, Patr. Lat. 198. 1099). It is
the only passage where I have discovered any noteworthy verbal
similiarity between Comestor and the poet; cf. Introd., p. xxxix.
661. Se! so Sare la3es. For this use of so after see! cf. 1225.
665. Cf. Gaw. 1981 : bay 3elden hym a3ayn 3eply bat ilk.’
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Notes
93
In Alex. C. 1393 (Ashmole MS.), just as in this line in Purity ,
the verb is omitted after gapely: 'And J>ai 3apely a3ayne and 3ildis
]>am swythe/ though the Dublin MS. has ‘and J>ai 3opely ayayn
3eldyn baim swythe/ On the forms again and again in the allit-
erative poetry, see Schumacher, pp. 198 ff. *
668. ‘That she did not laugh on account of any words they
uttered/
671. ros up radly. Cf. 797; Pat. 378; Gaw. 367. The phraseol-
ogy is strikingly similar, though it must be remembered that rise
radly is a common phrase (cf. Fuhrmann, p. 52).
683. his corse. ‘Him/ The use of ME. corse as equivalent to
the personal pronoun is borrowed from the similar use of OF.
cors (Einenkel, Grundr .* 1. 1126, § 173 cc; for the OF. see Tobler,
Verm. Beitr . 1. 30-6). Cf. Destr . Troy 1865-6:
Syn he no knowlage, ne Acoyntaunse of my cors has,
Ne I hardely herde of hym hade in my lyue.
The use of body in the same sense is frequent in ME. ; cf . Matzner’s
Worterbuch, and Campion-Holthausen’s note on Perceval 150.
689. For the expression, compare Dunbar’s Tua Mariit Wemen
and the Wedo 115: ‘Quhen that the sound of his saw sinkis in my
eris/
693-712. The poet’s own elaboration.
706. stylle stollen Steven. Cf. 1778, and Gaw. 1659: ‘Wyth
stille stollen countenaunce/
708. meschefez on mold. Cf. Piers Plow. B. Prol. 67, C. 13.
178; Rich. Redeless 3. 9.
724. Knigge (p. 5) compares Erken. 245: ‘For I was ry3twis
and rekene and redy of the laghe/
727. byn note, pyn again occurs before initial n, 1638. Before
h, pyn occurs once, 876, elsewhere py (pi), 920, 1625; also pi
erigaut, 148.
735. tatz to non ille. Cf. Gaw. 1811 : ‘Tas to non ille/
740. for hortyng. Here practically equivalent to ‘from hurting/
though the peculiar sense of for of course arose from the meaning
‘to prevent, against’ (see NED., s. v. for 23. d, esp. quotation from
Alex.).
743. forfete. Two explanations of this line are possible: (1)
we may consider forfete elliptical, and equivalent to ‘be fre’ of
741, paraphrasing ‘though only forty be without (sin), yet I shall
delay for a time’; or (2) we may consider forfete a noun, the
object of fryst, and paraphrase ‘though (the number be only)
forty, I shall delay the punishment.’ The meaning given to forfete
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Purity
in (2) is possible, since Matzner gives the definition ‘Busse fur
Vergeben, fiber haupt Busse, Strafe’ (though NED. gives nothing
exactly equivalent), but the construction would be decidedly
awkward. (1) seems therefore preferable, in spite of the fact
that this meaning of the verb is unexampled.
744. Cf. 1013, and esp. Pat. 284.
747. The idea is repeated from 736, where it corresponds
regularly to Gen. 18. 27.
748. Cf. Pat . 329.
768-76. This special intercession for Lot is inserted by the poet,
Lot not even being mentioned in the Biblical account. Cf.
Introd., p. li.
772. my lef broJ>er. Cf. note on 924.
775. Cf. 907.
778. [morn]ande for so[r3e]. MS. wepande for sorewe, but
the last word rewritten by a second hand. It seems to me very
probable that the last three words of the line were copied by the
scribe from the line above wepande for care, and that the second
hand, recognizing the dittograph, boldly changed care to sorewe.
The scribe was quite evidently nodding at this passage; cf. 775
wendez wendez, 783 mevand mevande.
781. On was and is as plurals, see Kellner, Synt., p. 48 ; Matzner,
Gram ? 2. 15 1.
795. au[c]ly, MS. autly. Gollancz is mistaken in declaring that
aucly is the reading of the MS. {Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 156), since
the letter is plainly t in this case. But the scribe may easily have
written t for c as he did in plate for place, 72, especially as he had
just written autl in fautlez of the preceding line. I adopt Gollancz’s
suggestion that the word is that recorded in NED. s. v. awkly,
adj., ‘untoward, perverse,’ found in the Lindisfarne Gospels as
afulic (ONth. *afu(h), ON. afugr), and in Archbishop Parker as
awkly. The adjective awk is more common. Gollancz paraphrases :
‘There was nothing amiss in either for they were angels.’ Before
Gollancz’s explanation came to my notice, I had thought the word
might be autly, as it stands in the text, a variant of authly,
Alex. C. 3234 (Ashmole MS.)* which Skeat defines ‘sadly,’ but
which might better be defined ‘dreadful, horrible’; cf. the peculiar
noun aut, ‘dread,’ Laud Troy Book 10096 ( EETS . 121). But there
are obvious difficulties with the etymology of this word (Skeat
suggested ON. aufir, ‘desolate’), and the meaning ‘dreadful’ is
here less apt than ‘amiss, awry.’
796. under3ede. This form is explained by Zupitza in his note
on Guy of Warwick (EETS. Ext. Ser. 25, 26) 8231, which I quote
entire: ‘vnduryode = understood, learnt. Cf. 1 . 10804:
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Notes
95
And hys moonyng vndurgode.
The word is wanting in Stratmann, but Halliwell (Diction., 901)
quotes from our MS.:
The hors sone unduryede
That Befyse was not on hys rygge.
Cf. besides Alliterative Poems, ed. Morris, b. 796:
And bat be 3ep undergede, bat in be 3ate syttez.
Morris, in his note to this passage and in the glossary, takes
undergede = undergete, but this is certainly wrong. The word in
question is not OE. under geat (=vnder3ate, 1 . 10430), but +under-
geeode = under eode. As to the signification,, cf. understand
798. Loth; The unusual position of the word is due to the
requirements of the alliteration. The vocative Loth in 841, occupy-
ing the same position in the line, halts the rhythm in the same
peculiar way; cf. Gaw . 2469.
805. Cf. Gaw . 1836: ‘And he nayed bat he nolde neghe in no
wyse.’
812. For the word-order compare the similar line, Destr . Troy
750: ‘pat was rially arayed with a riche bede.’
819. prcite. In a paper read before the Philological Society,
according to a brief summary in the Athen . 1894. 2. 646, Gollancz
explained that f threfte is for therfte, unleavened.’ NED. gives
neither form, although it has duly recorded the related word tharf,
which is not uncommon, and appears at 635 in its regular ME.
form perve. Gollancz was certainly right in explaining prefte as
‘unleavened,’ since this form threft, with metathesis, is given by
the EDD . as a variant of tharf . The word is not included in M.’s
glossary.
819-28. The incident of Lot’s wife putting salt into the food
of her visitors, contrary to Lot’s express command, is purely
apocryphal, as is likewise the statement (996-1000) that this was
one of the reasons why she was turned into a pillar of salt. O. F.
Emerson, in Mod. Lang. Rev. 10. 373-5, points out that this inter-
esting legend has its ultimate origin in Hebrew tradition, accord-
ing to which Lot and his wife quarreled about giving salt to the
strangers. Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt because of
her disobedience. Lot’s command that ‘no sour ne no salt’ should
be served is due, as Emerson explains, to the fact that the unleavened
bread must contain neither yeast nor salt. As this legend does
not appear in any of the well-known mediaeval accounts, Emerson
suggests that the poet may have been directly acquainted with the
Hebrew commentaries on the Bible.
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9 6
Purity
It may be well to call attention, in this connection, to another
element in the Hebrew legend of Lot that seems to have been
familiar to the poet of Purity: Lot's great wealth, which is empha-
sized at 786, 812, 878, though there is no hint of it in the Biblical
passages paraphrased. The only indication of Lot's wealth in the
Bible occurs in Gen. 13. 6, where it is said of Abraham and Lot
Tor their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.'
But in Rabbinical literature Lot's reputation in this respect has
been greatly developed. The Jewish Encycl . says: ‘He was besides
very greedy of wealth; and at Sodom he practised usury (Genesis
Rabbah li. 8). His hesitation to leave the city (comp. Gen. 19. 16)
was due to this regret for his great wealth which he was obliged
to abandon (Gen. R. 1. 17).'
821. wroth. Emendation to wrogt, as M. suggests, is not abso-
lutely necessary, since the form ending in - th occurs elsewhere, e. g.
wrouthe , Alex . and Dind . 88. 775.
822 ff. Lot's wife says : ‘These disagreeable fellows don't like
any salt in their sauce; yet there is no reason why other people
should go without, even though the two be (so) fastidious.*
831. tyl pay waschen hade. Washing after, as well as before,
meals was the custom in the Middle Ages, and is mentioned con-
stantly in the romances (cf. Schultz, Das Hofische Leben 1. 415 ff.,
432 ).
832. Cf. Gaw. 1648 : ‘penne pay teldet table3 [on] trestes alofte.'
838. Cf. Morte Arth. 2468: ‘Skayres paire skottefers and theire
skowtte-waches' ; and Destr . Troy 1089: ‘Skairen out skoute-wacche
for skeltyng of harme' ; and see also 598 n.
842. 3ete. This is an indisputable occurrence of get with initial
g (OE. gietan), since the word alliterates with gong and gorewhyle,
and the meaning forbids derivation from OE. giatan (cf. NED.
s. v. get 64, on get out used transitively). Schumacher (pp. 209,
21 1 ) gives two other examples — get , Sege of Jer . 971, and geten,
Alex . C . 1107. These instances of forms with the initial continuant
are sufficient to dispose of NED.’s assertion that the ‘solitary
example in ME. of geten without prefix . . . may be referred to
the influence of bigeten !
846. sor3e. See note on 11 7.
848. The idea is: ‘of the sin about which they raised a cry
with those fearful words,' but pose bropelych wordez is made the
subject. Gollancz interprets ‘the spew which those wild words
cast up* {Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 157).
855-6. The meaning is: ‘He feared no harm from the wicked
men which should prevent him from going out of the gate to
meet the danger.'
Digitized, by ^ooQle
Notes
97
855. wonded no woJ>e. Cf. Gaw. 488: ‘For wo]>e J>at J>ou ne
wonde.’
867. Cf. Sege of Jer . 99: 30 a mayde vnmarred J>at neuer
man touched/
882. wapped upon. ‘Flung open/ Cf. Gol. and Gaw . 127 : ‘The
yettis wappit war wyde/
886. blynde as Bayard. Originally bayard meant simply a bay-
colored horse, particularly the magic horse given by Charlemagne
to Renaud, but, as NED. explains, it was ‘alluded to in many
phrases and proverbial sayings, the origin of which was in later
times forgotten, and “Bayard” taken as the type of blindness or
blind recklessness/
890. rolled. If this were the only occurrence of the word, one
might suggest that it is based on ON. hr 08 a, ‘to huddle up’ (see
Cleasby-Vigfusson) ; but this derivation would hardly explain the
use of the word in 59, where it is difficult to ascertain the exact
meaning. NED . cites both passages without attempting to derive
or define the words. The difficulty is increased by the line in
the Parlement of the Three Ages (261) : ‘Then this renke alle in
rosett rothelede thies wordes/ where the word seems to mean
simply ‘uttered*; but it is possible that this is a different word, to
be referred to ME. rope , ON. ra&a (cf. rothe v. 1 and v/ in NED.).
891-2. ‘But those who dwelt in the house were suddenly (?)
roused (and rescued) from one of the most terrible calamities that
ever happened/
918. This line reflects Gen. 19. 19: ‘ne forte apprehendat me
malum/
923. oddely ]>yn one. ‘Peculiarly or entirely alone/ The
original construction with the personal pronoun him one (= ‘alone’),
thee one, passed into his one, thine one, just as thee self became
thyself (see Einenkel, Grundr., 2d ed., 1. 1086, 174 j 3 ). Cf. Scotch
his lane, and the expression by his lonesome .
924. Abraham J>y[h em]. The corrector who wrote broper over
em was probably thinking of 772, where Abraham speaks of Lot
as ‘my lef broker’ (Vulgate f rater). This Hebraism, brother for
kinsman, occurs with reference to Lot and Abraham at Gen. 13.
8, 11 ; 14. 14, 16, where the Vulgate has frater.
931. Cf. 767.
933. In the Biblical account, Lot’s attempts to arouse the
household (Gen. 19. 14) precede his conversation with the angels
(Gen. 19. 15-22), paraphrased by 893-932. The poet transposed the
order of events, apparently in order not to delay by this conversa-
tion his rapid narrative of the flight of Lot and his family.
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9 8
Purity
935. token hit as t[a]yt. ‘They took it as a joke’ translating
Gen. 19. 14: ‘Et visus est eis quasi ludens loqui.’ The scribe,
thinking of the common phrase as tyt, ‘at once’ (see Glossary, s. v.
tid), wrote tyt for tayt, ‘play, sport, game.’ That tayt (ON. teiti,
‘joy, gladsomeness’) had such a meaning in ME. (given in Brad-
ley- Stratmann, but not in NED.) is plain from Alex . C. 3979, where
Skeat defines ‘play, game’ (cf. also ON. leik ok teiti). One may
compare the very similar paraphrase in the Cursor Mundi (2815-6) :
Bot al hat loth to bairn can sai
pam thoght it was not bot in plai.
Bateson and Gollancz would leave the word tyt. Gollancz interprets
as tyt , ‘as mere tittle-tattle/ and assumes a word tit, of which tittle
is the frequentative and tattle a variant. This is possible, but there
is no record of such a word elsewhere. The word can hardly be
tit, ‘small' (cf. Icel. tittr, ‘small bird'), as Gollancz points out
{Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 157).
943. Cf. Gaw . 2488 : ‘In tokenyng he wat3 tane in tech of a faute.’
945. kayre ne con. Fischer says (p. 62) : ‘-ne als negation
gefasst, stort den sinn; M. halt -n(e) fur die endung des inf.,
dann aber ist der vers zu kurz. Mit Prof. Trautmann mochte ich
en-con lesen und dieses en- fur das alte on- halten. Noch Orm
2801 sagt onginnen . Also encon nordengl. fur engon. Der sinn
ist dann : “sie machten sich auf dem weg.” ’ M/s explanation that
the -n(e) is the infinitive ending is less rash than emendation to
a word otherwise unknown; and even though it were necessary to
drop the final e, this does not, as Fischer asserts, make the verse
too short, since we have ‘and by wedded wyf’ (330) and ‘and wyth
besten blod’ (1446), of exactly the same metrical type. But Emer-
son’s explanation ( Pubk Mod. Lang . Ass. 34. 508) is preferable.
956. swe. Fischer would read sweyed, as M. suggested; Bate-
son, swed; but compare swege, pret. 3 sg., Gaw. 1796, and swey,
Pat. 429.
958- Cf. note on 222.
961. houndez of heven. For the application of the term ‘hound’
to a heavenly power, one may compare the famous passage in Dante,
Purg. 1. 101, ‘infin che il Veltro verra/ which early commentators
often considered a reference to Christ (see Toynbee’s Dante
Dictionary, s. v. Veltro). The resemblance to the title of Francis
Thompson’s poem, The Hound of Heaven, is striking, and his
application of the term to Christ may go back to this interpreta-
tion of Dante’s ‘Hound/ though it should be remembered that
the alliterative phrase was used by Shelley in Prometheus Unbound
1. 34, ‘Heaven’s winged hound . . . tears up my heart/ where
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Notes
99
the reference is to the eagle which ^Eschylus calls Atbs vrrjv 6 s
(Prom. IQ22). That mediaeval writers saw no objection to this
association of hounds with angels and ministers of grace, may be
seen from the fanciful interpretation current in the Middle Ages
of Dominicani , as Domini cani. The context of this line in Purity
reminds one of the descriptions of the Harrowing of Hell, and it
is possible that the idea of the ‘houndez of heven’ here, and
perhaps also that of the commentators on Dante’s Veltro , go back
to some obscure legendary conception. The use of the phrase here
was probably also influenced by the contrasting idea of the
‘hound (s) of Hell,’ which was common: ‘barinne is mony on
hungri hund’ (Eleven Pains of Hell 244, in Morris’s Old Engl.
Miscellany, EETS. 49).
972. clatered J>e cloudes. The phrase is common; cf. Destr.
Troy 4626, 5787, 12501; Alex. C. 555; Sege of Jer. 54.
976. Cf. Pist. of Susan 225 : ‘But 3it we trinet a trot, bat
traytour to take.’
983. bat ho nas. ‘without becoming’; i. e. she became a statue
at once.
1002. nom[e]n. MS. no mon. M.’s attempt to make sense of
this line by inserting so before much — ‘bat alle na3t [so] much nuye
had no mon in his hert’ — solves only half the difficulty,, as two sub-
jects (pat and no mon) remain for the relative clause. Even
Fischer’s further change, the omission of alle, which makes the
line parenthetical, does not dispose of the awkwardness of the
following line. The syntactical difficulties disappear and the whole
passage reads smoothly, if one assumes that the scribe made the
simple mistake of writing no mon for nomen (this form occurs
1 . 1281) ; pat, referring back to Abraham, would be the subject
of the relative clause, and leyen would be parallel to nomen, the
hade which precedes nomen being understood for leyen: ‘Abra-
ham, . . . who had had (felt) anxiety all night and lain awake
on Lot’s account.’ The fact that the verb nym is here used of
continued rather than momentary action is unusual, but such strain-
ing of meaning is not uncommon in this and other alliterative
poems; cf. the use of the word in OE., where it means ‘hold,
have’ as well as ‘take’ (see definitions in Bosworth-Toller, niman
II). It may be noted that nummen alliterates with nyes in Pat. 76.
Emerson (Publ. Mod. Lang . Ass . 34. 509) has recently suggested
this emendation independently.
1013. Cf. Pat. 370: ‘pe verray vengaunce of God schal voyde
bis place.’
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IOO
Purity
1015. faure citees. In discussing the poet’s indebtedness to
Mandeville (see 1022 n.), C. F. Brown points out that the mention
of four cities instead of five is the only important variation from
Mandeville’s account. ‘The number four,’ he writes, ‘is found
only in John of Wiirtzburg (Tobler, Descrip . Ter. Sand., p. 178)
and in the De Situ, an itinerary of the middle of the 12th century
(Marquis de Vogue, Les Eglises de la Terre Sainte, p. 416). But
there are no other similarities between these accounts and the
passage in Cleanness, and it is extremely improbable that our
author was acquainted with them. Moreover, we may account
for our author’s change in the number of cities,, without supposing
any such dependence. The fifth city in the Mandeville list is
Segor (Zoar), though it is stated that it was not destroyed at
the time that the others were, but, through the intercession of Lot,
was saved for a long time. It is very likely that our author felt
that to include Segor among the destroyed cities was a contradic-
tion of God’s promise to Lot that it should be spared (Gen.
19: 21-22), and therefore corrected the number to four. If this
explanation be accepted, it furnishes another instance of our
author’s careful observance of the Biblical text' ( Publ . Mod. Lang.
Ass. 19, 152). There would be nothing improbable in this sugges-
tion, especially since the poet states plainly that Segor (Zoar)
was saved (992). But in the manuscript per faure has undoubtedly
been partly written by a second hand (see Introd., p. ix, for other
instances). The r of faure and the flourish after it (expanded e
in the text) are altogether unlike the scribe’s handwriting, and a
thin line below the a may indicate that this letter has been written
over a y. I suspect, therefore, that the original reading may
have been fyue, which was changed to faure by a later hand for
the sake of consistency with 992. If this were true, we should
have the same kind of correction that was made in 924 (see note),
where em was changed to broper because broper had been used
in 772. It is possible, then, that the poet was following Mandeville
after all, and gave the number of cities destroyed as five.
1019. smelle. MS., M. synne. The scribe probably miswrote
synne because he had just written it in the line before. The poet
elsewhere usually alliterates sm only with itself, and not with simple
s (Pur. 226, 461, 77 L 732 , 955; Gaw. 407, 1763, 1789). Cf. 461.
1022-48. These lines are based on Mandeville’s Voyage d * Outre
Mer (ed. Warner, p. 50) : ‘Entour celle mer croist mult dalum et
dalketran. . . . Leawe de cel mere est mult amere et salee; et
si la terre estoit moillie de celle eawe, elle naporteroit point de
fruit. Et la terre de luy change souent sa colour. Et iette fors
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Notes
IOI
del eawe vne chose qe homme appelle aspalt, auxi grosses pieces
come vne chival, touz les iours et a toutes cousteez. . . . Et
est dit Mer Mort pur ceo qelle ne court point; ne homme ne beste
qad en luy vie ne purroit morir en cel meer. Et ceo ad estee proue
mointefoitz qe homme gettoit dedeinz gentz qi auoient deseruy
mort, et demorroient iii. iours ou iiii., mes ils ne poaient morir. . . .
Et qi metteroit fer dedeins, il noeroit par dessure; et qi mitteroit
vne plume dedeins, elle irroit au founz. . . . Et si croissent
arbres delez qi portent pommes tres beles et de bele colour a
regarder et toutes maners a semblant, mes qi les brusera ou trenchera
parmy, il ne trouera dedeins qe cendres.’
1026. to founs. Mandeville’s au founz; cf. Osgood’s note on
Pearl iii.
1048. wyndowande askes. Cf. Mandeville’s Travels (Cotton
MS., ed. Halliwell, p. 107) : ‘And there let Julianus Apostata dyggen
him up, and let brennen his Bones, . . . and let wyndwe the
Askes in the Wynd.’
1057-66. The passage here paraphrased consists of 11 . 8021 ff.
(ed. Marteau) of the Roman de la Rose , this part being written,
as the poet rightly states, by Jean Clopinel, better known as Jean
de Meun. It is part of Reason’s advice to the Lover about the
manner in which he should undertake to set free the imprisoned
Bel Acueil, son of Courtesy; and the point of the passage, as
our poet sees, is that favor is to be won by observing the character
of the lady beloved,, and doing that which pleases her best. I
quote the more relevant parts of this long discourse :
De Bel-Acuel vous prenes garde
Par quel semblant il vous regarde,
Comment que soit, ne de quel chiere;
Conformes-vous a sa maniere:
S’ele est ancienne et meure,
Vous metres toute vostre cure
En vous tenir meurement;
Et s’il se contient nicement,
Nicement vous reconten£s.
De li ensivre vous penes:
S’il est lies, faites chiere lie,
S’il est correcies, corrocie;
S’il rit, ries; pi ores s’il plore,
Ainsinc vous tenes chacune hore
Ce qu’il blasmera, si blasmes,
Et loes quanqu’il loera;
Digitized by ^ooQle
102
Purity
Moult plus en vous sen fiera.
Cuidies que dame a cuer vaillant
Aint ung garcon fol et saillant? . . . (8021-4)
Et s’uns sages d'amors parole
A une damoisele foie,
S'il li fait semblant d'estre sages,
Ja la ne torra ses corages. . . . (8051-4)
Briement faites en toute place
Quanque vous pens6s qui li place.
S'ainsinc le faites, n'en dout£s,
Ja n'en seres arrier bout6s,
Ains vendres a vostre propos,
Tout ausinc cum ge le propos. (8091-6)
1065 ff. This application of Jean de Meun's advice is of course
entirely the poet's own ; cf. Introd., p. xlii.
1067. The word conforme is borrowed from Roman de la Rose
8024 (see above).
1068. as )?e perle selven. This comparison of Christ with the
pearl reflects the common interpretation of the pearl of great price
(Matt. 13. 45„ 46) as a symbol of Christ. Among the commentators
who gave this explanation were Origen (Migne* Patr. Grcec. 13.
856) ; Ephraem Syrus ( Select Works, p. 84, ed. Morris) ; Augustine,
who gives other possible interpretations (Patr. Lat. 35. 1371) ;
Maximus of Turin (Patr. Lat. 57. 528) ; Bede (Patr. Lat. 92. 69) ;
Walafrid Strabo (Patr. Lat. 114. 133) ; Radbertus (Patr. Lat.
120.505). For other interpretations, see Osgood's note on Pearl 735.
1075-80. The poet frequently renders homage to the Virgin (cf.
Pearl 423 ff., 453 ff.; Gaw. 647 ff.); but nowhere has he written
fairer lines in her praise than this series of contrasts describing
her joy in the birth of Christ. The belief in the Virgin's painless
delivery arose early (cf. Livius, The Blessed Virgin in the Fathers
of the First Six Centuries, London, 1893, pp. 204-7) 5 and this is
reflected in the innumerable hymns on the Five Joys of the Virgin,
which regularly include the birth of Christ as one of the five joys.
With 1 . 1077 may be compared Birth of Jesus 599-60 (in Horstmann’s
Altengl. Legenden, 1875) •
Heo bar a betere bur]?one J>an wymmen now do,
Heo hedde elles igroned sore and nou3t ascaped so.
So in the Nativity Plays, the miraculous delivery of Mary excites
the wonder of the midwives (Chester 528-66; Coventry 203 ff., ed.
Hemingway) .
Digitized by L^ooQle
Notes
103
1078. seknesse al sounde. Cf. Roman de la Rose 444i~ 2 :
C’e st langor toute santeive
Cest sante toute maladive.
1084. were. This use of the subjunctive to express an uncon-
ditional occurrence is noteworthy; we should expert watz; cf.
also 209 and Gaw. 143, though in the latter instance were may
possibly be an ind. plural due to attraction. Kellner ( Engl . Stud.
18. 290) calls attention to a subjunctive in rhyme in Ipomadon
(1596), where we should expect the indicative :
A messyngere, it semyd, he were,
For be his syde a box he bare,
and explains this instance and a similar use of were in Guy of
Warwick (27 98) as due to the necessities of rhyme. It is noteworthy
that the two instances in Purity occur at the end of the line, where
the weak metrical ending is usual.
1086. The adoration of the ox and the ass„ like the singing of
the angels (1080 ff.), had become traditional. Both are found in
the Pseudo-Matthew , Chap. 14 (Cowper, Apocryphal Gospels , p. 53).
1103-8. Christ’s clean cutting of the bread is mentioned in the
Towneley Play (No. 28) Thomas of India 264-5:
Ihesu, goddis son of heuen at sopere satt betweyn ;
Ther bred he brake as euen as it cutt had beyn.
These lines are spoken by Peter in order to convince the doubting
Thomas of Christ’s resurrection, and the reference is to the supper
at Emmaus, where, according to Luke 24. 35, the disciples recog-
nized Christ in fractione panis. The passage in Purity and that
in the Towneley Play probably go back to a common source based
on Luke’s words.
1109. kyryous and clene. The lines on Christ’s cutting the
bread have, of course, little to do with Christ’s purity, and the
passage is introduced only by means of a kind of play on words.
Clene means at once ‘pure,’ and, with reference to cutting, ‘smooth,
sharp, without ragged edges.’ So kyryous in this line = ‘skilful’
as far as the cutting of the bread is concerned, but = ‘particular’
in connection with Christ’s abhorrence of everything vile.
1 1 18. hym. This use of the dative (accus.) for the nominative
is extraordinary. Einenkel quotes examples of various cases where
the dative pronoun was substituted for the nominative ( Grundr .,
2d ed., 1. 1085, § 141 «; 1093, § 144 «), but none is quite like this
instance. It may be that we have a case of attraction, the pronoun,
Digitized by ^ooQle
104 Purity
which should be the subject of be demed, being somehow thought
of as the object of to dele,
1123. Tor “6* wax euer,” etc., the sense seems to require that
we should read “& wax ho euer” etc/ — M. Perhaps the idea of
the condition is carried over from the previous clause, and the
repetition of the pronoun is therefore unnecessary.
11 24. in pyese. Gollancz (Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 158) explains
as a variant of ME. 0 pece, often found in Generydes as a mere
emphasis of ‘still, yet/ But it is unlikely that ‘in pyese probably =
OF. en paix (NED. places 0 pece under peace and piece),’ as he
suggests, since the spelling pyece would point to piece (see ME.
variants of the two words in NED.), and, on the other hand, the
ordinary meaning of o pece (NED., s. v. piece, 14b), ‘continuously,
constantly/ seems too colorless for the context. Bateson suggested
in pyere ‘[in use] among precious stones/ but this meaning can
hardly be obtained from the emendation. Some contrast is evi-
dently intended with the uncheryst of the following line, and it
may be that the word was originally pryse. The phrase in price
meaning ‘esteemed, valued* is not uncommon (see NED., s. v.
price, sb. 8). The lines would then mean: ‘The pearl does not dull
while it is held in esteem, but if it happens to become neglected/ etc.
1127. Schofield (Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass. 24. 600, n. 1) refers
to Pliny’s Natural History 9. 56, where it is said of the pearl:
‘Usu atteri non dubium est coloremque indiligentia mutare/
1131. For the figure of polishing the heart and making it ‘shyne
]>ur3 schryfte* (1115), compare Richard Rolle of Hampole’s Twelve
Profits of Tribulation (ed. Horstmann 2. 50) : ‘For)>y ne pleyne
pc not poi god furblisshe pi hert ]?at hit shyne & be made clene;
for in no opcr maner ]>ou may not se god; as saies seynt Matheu:
“Blessid be ]>o clene of hert : for )>ai shal se god.” *
1157. Danyel in his dialokez. The account of the siege and
destruction of Jerusalem is taken, not from the brief summary in
the first chapter of Daniel, but from the longer narrative in Jere-
miah 52. 1-26 (practically the same in 2 Kings 24. 18 — 25. 17).
See Appendix for the passages of the Vulgate here paraphrased by
the poet. Details obtained from other parts of the Bible will be
mentioned below as they occur.
1 172-4. This reference to Zedekiah’s idolatry is based on 2 Chron.
36. 12-4.
1189. teveled. M. printed teneled, but Miss E. M. Wright (Engl.
Stud. 36. 223-4) connected it with teuelyng, Gaw. 1514 (M. tenelyng;
but Gollancz, rev. ed. of 1912, teuelyng ), and related the word to
dialectal tevel, ‘to confuse/ and perhaps to tave, ‘to strive, toil,
Digitized by ^ooQle
Notes
105
labour/ In the sense of ‘strive, struggle/ the only instances in
ME. are the two in Purity and Gawain (see further NED., s. v.
tevel, tavel).
1193. upon longe. ‘At length, finally/ NED . does not record
up {on) long in a temporal sense, but it occurs at Erken. 175, upone
longe. Cf. upon laste, Pat . 194; {up) on first, Gaw. 9, 49 h 5 2 8,
2019; opon late, Alex. C. 2331.
1193-4. The famine in the Greek camp is similarly described in
Destr. Troy 9376-7:
pat horn failed the fode, and defaute hade:
Hongur full hote harmyt hom pen.
1205. ne. Cf. note on 225.
1209. Cf. Alex . C. 2981 : ‘With hard hattis on paire hedis hied
to paire horsis/ and Winner and Waster 51 : ‘Harde hattes appon
hedes and helmys with crestys/
1226. Nabugo. This curious abbreviation of Nebuchadnezzar’s
name, which occurs again at 1233, is due to the French manner of
dividing the name — Nabugo de Nozar (so always in MS.). Gower
twice uses the form Nabugod {Mir our de L’Omrne 1887, 10338).
1229-32. M. placed a period after 1230, but this punctuation is
obviously wrong, since it leaves without an apodosis the condition
whose protasis consists of 1229-30. The poet has just declared
(1226-8) that Zedekiah was brought low, not because of Nebu-
chadnezzar (who was only God’s instrument), but because of his
wickedness in the sight of the Lord. He proceeds to explain that
if the Lord had not become angry with Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar
would have been sent elsewhere; cf. Jer. 38. 17-8. The passage
may be paraphrased: ‘For if the Father, who had previously guided
him, had (still) been his friend, and if (Zedekiah) had never
sinned against him (the Lord) by his apostasy, all (Nebuchad-
nezzar’s hosts) would have been called away to Chaldea and the
countries of India — and they would have had little trouble in taking
Turkey by the way.’ The reasons for the obscurity of the lines
are (1) the subject of trespast (1230) is omitted, even though it
is different from the subject of the preceding clause; (2) the scribe
apparently misunderstood the lines, and wrote, with incorrect
capitalization: ‘To Colde wer alle Calde’; (3) the last line (1232)
has little connection with the general idea, and was apparently
added as an afterthought.
1267. Cf. Death and Life 205: ‘Merry maydens on the mold
shee mightilye killethe/
1291. nummen. MS. nunnend; cf. the similar mistake, Pat. 3,
aswagend for aswagen .
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1294. Cf. Pat . 178 : ‘Her3ed out of vche hyrne to hent J>at falles.’
1317-20. The poet is careful to explain that Nebuchadnezzar
remained unpunished for his seizure of the holy vessels because
he reverently stored them in his treasury, whereas Belshazzar
‘let of hem ly3t,’ and thereby aroused God's wrath; cf. also 1151-6.
This was also the explanation given by Jerome in his Commentarium
in Danielem: ‘Quamdiu vasa fuerunt in idolio Babylonis non est
iratus Dominus : videbantur enim rem Dei secundum pravam
quidem opinionem, tamen divino cultui consecrasse : postquam autem
humanis usibus divina contaminant, statim poena sequitur post sacri-
legium’ (Migne, Pair. Lat. 25. 519).
1324. god of )?e grounde. Cf. 1663.
1327. bi >e laste. ‘At last, finally/ NED. records the phrase
(s. v. last) only in the meaning ‘by the latest/ but it is frequently
a mere variant of the commoner at pe laste (four times in Purity ,
see Glossary), as in Destr. Troy 3188-90:
At pe last , when the lede hade left of his speche,
ffele of J>e folke febull it thughten;
But yche lede by the last aliet }>erto.
It may be noted that in the instance just quoted, as in this line in
Purity, there is another word in the line beginning with b.
1329-56. This transition is the poet’s own, the mention of Bel-
shazzar’s worshiping false gods (1340 ff.) anticipating 1522 ff.
1357 ff. Belshazzar’s feast is frequently cited in illustration of
the sin of sacrifice, for example, in Robert of Brunne’s Handlyng
Synne 9347-434, and Gower’s Confessio Amantis 5. 7012-31,, where
Nebuzaradan, Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar are all three deemed
guilty of sacrilege, and in the Mirour de L’Omme 7177-88, where
Gower mentions only Nebuzaradan and Belshazzar.
1376. Cf. Gaw. 58 : ‘Hit were now gret nye to neuen/
1383. troched toures. As Skeat explained in 1892 (see Notes
on Engl. Etym ., p. 306), troched was originally applied to a stag’s
horn, meaning ‘tufted at the tip with small tines’ (cf. OF. troche
in this sense). This term of the chase was then used figuratively
as a term of architecture, a troched tour being one ‘adorned with
small pointed pinnacles.’ The only other instance of this poetical
application of the word occurs at Gaw. 795: ‘Towre[s] telded
bytwene, trochet ful J?ik.’
1385. ‘The palace that covered the ground enclosed within/ The
word pursaunt is again used in Pearl 1035 : ‘So twelue in poursent I
con asspye.’ NED., following Morris, is surely right in including
this instance from the Pearl s. v. purcinct, although Bradley-
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Notes
107
Stratmann, Gollancz, and Osgood printed pourseut , ‘succession,’
a meaning of pursuit that NED. does not find before Lord Bacon.
1391* P« halle to hit m[a]d. Emerson ( Publ . Mod . Lang . Ass.
34. 513) interprets to hit med as ‘in their middle or midst.’
X40xff. Cf. the similar description of the beginning of the
banquet in Gawain (114-24) :
pise were di3t on pe des, and derworply serued,
& sipen mony siker segge at pe sidborde3.
pen pe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes,
Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, pat per-bi henged,
Nwe nakeryn noyse with pe noble pipes,
Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote,
pat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches;
Dayntes dryuen per- wyth, of ful dere metes,
Foysoun of pe fresche, and on so fele disches,
pat pine to fynde pe place pe peple bi-forne
For to sette pe sylueren, pat sere sewes halden.
140a. Cf. Alex. C. (Dublin MS.) 1386: ‘Sterne stevyn vpon
stroke straked trompettes.’ The blare of trumpets generally
announced the beginning of elaborate banquets (cf. Schultz, Das
Hofische Leben 1. 423).
1407-12. In these lines, as M. notes, ‘we have evidently an allu-
sion to the “table subtleties” of the fourteenth century.’
1408. pared out of paper. Cf. Gaw. 802 : ‘Pared out of papure.’
1410. foler. Gollancz, in a paper read before the Philological
Society, suggested that this word, not defined by Morris, and not
found in the dictionaries, meant ‘foliation’ (see the summary of
Gollancz’s paper, A then. 1894. 2. 646). It would be possible to
derive such a word from an AN. *foler, OF. *folier, representing a
Lat. +folarium. Godefroy gives an OF. noun fuellier, but this would
either be a formation on fuel or at least influenced by the stem-
stressed form. The line means ‘birds fluttering among the foliage.’
Cf. further Gollancz’s note, Mod. Lang . Rev. 14. 199.
1411. Cf. 1457, and Morte Arth. 3355 : ‘Enamelde with azoure.’
1414. tulket. NED. cites this line both under tulk (the only
instance), where it is derived from ON. tulka , and also under tuck ,
v.,* where it emends to tukket, as it does also the tulkid of Alex. C.
2427, following Skeat’s suggestion in his edition of Alex., in spite
of the fact that the word occurs with / in both MSS. of the poem.
Skeat declared in his Glossary, s. v. tulkid, that ‘we often find kk
written more like Ik, the double letter being denoted only by
doubling the down stroke,’ and compared tuke up, Alex. 773 and
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3610, used of the blowing of trumpets. But in Purity, at least, kk
is always written out distinctly, and the occurrence of the form tulk
both here and in Alex . can hardly be attributed to a mere scribal
trick or error, even though the connection with ON. tulka may be
doubtful.
1416. bougounz busch. Brett, in Mod. Lang. Rev . 10. 188-9,
defines bougounz as ‘drumsticks/ since OF. bougon has various
meanings, ‘many denoting some instrument with a rounded, swollen
extremity, or one with such a rounded swelling in some part of
its length/ He translates the line: ‘And drumsticks’ noise (strik-
ing, strokes) clattered (rattled) so thick (fast)/
1426. Cf. 1619, and Destr. Troy 3192: ‘When counsell was kaght
of knightes & o>er/
1445. Cf. 1718.
1452. Cf. Morte Arth . 21 1 : ‘Crafty & curious, coruen full
faire/
1456. Cf. Sege of Jer. 1261 : ‘Bassynes of brend gold & o]?er bry3t
ger/
1459. enbaned . . . bantelles. In the Transactions of the
Philological Society for 1903 (6. 365), Skeat discusses these diffi-
cult words at length, and since he not only gives the probable
etymologies but explains this line in particular, I quote a consider-
able part of his note, which is under the heading Bantel: ‘This
word occurs in the poem called Cleanness, 1459, where a castle is
described as, “Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt”:
in the Pearl, 992, where the new Jerusalem has “banteles twelve on
basyng boun”; and in the Pearl, 1017, “The wal abof the bantels
bent.” The word belongs rather to Provencal than to Northern
French. Godefroy has merely bane, with the sense of ‘horn.’ But
Mistral has mod. Prov. bano, a horn, with a number of phrases
in which it is used ; also baneto, a little horn ; the F. bantel repre-
sents a mod. Prov. form ♦bantello or O.F. *banetel, a double
diminutive. The difficulty in the present case is to find out in
what secondary sense the word ‘horn’ has to be taken. For this
purpose we have to consider the curious word enbaned, which
also occurs in these poems, and is likewise a derivative of the
O.F. bane, a horn. It occurs twice ; once in the line already quoted :
“Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt,” the subject
being “castles arayed”; and in Gawain, 790, where a castle-wall
is described as being “Enbaned vnder the abataylment in the best
lawe,” i. e. in the best way. Thus in both cases the word enbaned
is a term used in fortification. But the mod. Prov. enbaner is
similarly used, and is explained by “garnir ou munir de cornes,”
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Notes
109
and enbanamen, sb., is distinctly said to be “terme de fortification,
ouvrage a cornes.” This “ouvrage a cornes” is described in
Littre as a term in fortification, exactly like what in English is
termed a ‘horn-work’; see N.E.D. Moreover, the mod. F. come
is used, architecturally, with the sense of a ‘salient angle.’ We
may conclude that an embanamen was made with a kind of horn-
work, an outwork with angles, including a space like three sides
of a square beyond the main-wall; and such a horn-work may well
have been called a bantel. The phrase under batelment suggests
that these outworks were battlemented like the main wall itself;
and the phrase on basyng bdun means that they were prepared on
a good foundation. They would require a firm basis because of
their superior height. I would, therefore, explain “Enbaned vnder
batelment with bantelles quoynt” by “provided, beneath battle-
ments, with fair outworks.” . . . The pictures in Knight’s Old
England of such castles as Rochester (fig. 375) or Cardiff (fig.
390) probably show what is meant. Thus Rochester keep-tower
■ has a three-angled projection or ‘horn’ at each of its four corners,
and the battlements on these projections are higher and more
conspicuous than the rest. The most conspicuous part of the
Tower of London has similar bantels at each corner.’
1461. c[ov]acles. MS., M. canacles. Cf. 1515 ‘clatering of
covacles (M. conacles).’ Bodtker pointed out ( Mod . Lang . Notes
26. 127) that the word should be covacle, as in Partonope of Blois
1768: ‘]?e covacle of Rube redde.’ The scribe undoubtedly thought
the word was conacle ( canacle ), mistaking ou for on, and he
would naturally write con- or can- indifferently, since he made no
distinction between on and an (see Knigge, p. 16). Although
there are French variants of OF. couvercle without the r, such as
couve(s)cle (see Godefroy’s Compliment), Bodtker thinks the
‘English form rather represents an independent change from
covarcle to covacle, due to analogy of the frequent nouns in -acle'
The usual form couvercle is used by Chaucer, Hous of Fame 2. 284.
1464 ff. The poet is here adorning his description of Belshazzar’s
feast with details which he had read in Mandeville’s account of
the wonders of the Great Chan’s palace and the land of Prester
John. The ‘richly enameled birds’ (1410-1), and those which
seem to be waving their feathers on the ornamental boughs of the
candlestick (1484-6), as well as the ‘fruit of flaming gems’ (1468 ff.)
are all found in Mandeville: ‘Et deuant la table del emperour as
grantz festes lem porte grant tables dor, ou il y a paouns dor et
molt dautres maners oiseaulx toutz dor et enameles et molt noble-
ment ouerez. Et les fait homme dauncer et hauler en batant lez
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paumes [“pennes” interlined in MS. R; both Cotton and Eger ton
MSS. translate zvings] et en fait homme des grantz museries. . . .
Par dessure vne partie de la sale y ad vne vigne faite de fyn or,
qui est entendue tout par dessur ; et y a plusours treches de reisins
des blanches, iaunes, rouges, viertz et noirs, toutz de pierres
preciouses. Ly blanc sount de cristall et de bericle et de yris; les
iaunes sount de toupaces; les rouges de rubiis, des grenaz et des
alabaundines ; les vertz sont des emeraudes, des peridoz et des
crisolites; et li noyrs sount des oniches et des geracites. Et sount
toutz si proprement faitz qils roient touz proprement rey sins’ (ed.
Warner, p. 107, 11 . 31-42). To these passages from the account
of the splendor of the Great Chan’s court, may be added a similar
description of artificial birds in the land of Prester John: ‘Et
auoit fait faire molt de diverse chose et de diuerses museries des
histoires et de diuerses bestes et des oiseaux, qi chanteroient et
tourneient par engine come ils fussent toutz vifs’ (p. 137, 1. 35).
The names of the two rarely mentioned jewels penitotes (14 72)
and alabaundarynes (1470) the poet almost certainly borrowed
from the passage from Mandeville quoted above.* All the poets
of the alliterative school delight in ornamenting their descriptions
with lists of precious stones (cf. Piers Plow. B. 2. 8-14; Rich.
Redeless 1. 35-48; Alex. C. 3329 ff., 3660 if., 5259-80; Sege of Jer.
1245-64; Pari. Three Ages 117-29; Howlat 339*45; Awnt. Arth.
391-6). But it should be noted that alabandine occurs in none of these
lists, and the peridot only in Awnt. Arth. 396 in the forms pelicocus ,
pelidoddes (see Amour’s note), and Sege of Jer . 1247: ‘with perles
& peritotes.’ The list of jewels which corresponds most exactly
with this given in Purity is that of Pearl 1002 ff. The description
most similar _n other details is that of the hall of an Indian palace
in Alex. C. (1660 ff.), where there are golden vines with grapes
fashioned from various precious gems, and marvelously painted
birds which are made to sing. But these descriptions are common-
place in medieval romance; cf. Eneas , ed. Salverda de Grave, pp.
389-90; Huon de Bordeaux 4921 ff.
1472. pynkardines. This is the only occurrence of the word,
which must be corrupted, though it is difficult to say from what.
M. in his glossary has ' tperre carnadine, carnelian stone (Marsh).’
The word pintadine is given by Littre, and defined ‘genre de mol-
lusques ( meleagrina ) dont une des especes fournit les perles
orientales et la nacre de perle,’ and it is also found in Mistral’s
dictionary of Provencal. It has come into English, according to
the Century Diet., Supplement , from Span.-Amer. pintadina . If
the word could be shown to be old, pynkardine might easily be
considered a corruption from it.
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Notes
in
1473. a-traverse. NED.’ s earliest example of this word bears
the date 1430.
tryfled. Amours is probably right in considering tryfled of this
line a variant form of tre foiled (see his long note on Awnt. Arth.
354). This occurrence would be older than any example (noun
or adj.) cited by NED.
1474. bekyr ande bolle. MS. bekyrande pe bolde. M. inter-
preted bekyrande as ‘bickering, fighting’; but a warrior can hardly
be thrust so suddenly into a description of the ornamentation of
cups and goblets, even if we were to overlook the extreme awkward-
ness of the construction ‘each warrior (fighting-man), the bold.’
As emended, lines 1473-4 mean : ‘thus all the edges of each beaker
and bowl were decorated crosswise.’ Another case of the conjunc-
tion ande being mistaken for a participial ending probably occurs
in glaymande glette, Pat. 269, and perhaps also ramelande myre ,
Pat. 279, where both NED. (s. v. gleiming and ramelande) and
Emerson {Engl. Stud. 4 7. 129-30) would read glaym ande glette ,
ramel ande myre. NED. gives the following ME. forms for
beaker: biker , becure, byker, biker , so that the form bekyr is
unexceptionable. Miss Weston’s translation {Romance, Vision and
Satire, p. 157) indicates that she recognized some corruption in
the text :
So, twined and twisted, doth the fair design
Bold, on the border of each beaker shine.
This emendation has also occurred to Professor Emerson ( Publ .
Mod. Lang. Ass. 34. 515).
1476. Ekwall {Engl. Stud. 49. 484) explains fleez as plural of
fly (OE. fleoge ), but his objection to ‘golden fleece’ as ornamentation
seems to me groundless; cf. Emerson, Publ. Mod. Lang. Ass.
34. 516.
I 4 ® 5 - [launces]. I adopt Biilbring’s ingenious suggestion of
inserting this word before lampes, since it does away with the
difficulty of having to make 1485 refer back to the bryddes (1482),
and at the same time makes lampes and oper lovely ch lygt the
parallel subjects of the new sentence. The poet is plainly intro-
ducing a new detail in 1485-92, a fact which is obscured and
confused by the scribe’s omission of launces, an easy mistake to
make when the next word also began with la. The word occurs
again at Pearl 978.
1491. This emendation also occurred to Emerson {Publ. Mod.
Lang. Ass. 34. 5 I 6).
1513-6. M.’s marginal gloss, ‘Music of all kinds is heard in the
hall,’ is altogether misleading, since the poet is not speaking of
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Purity
musical instruments, which have been mentioned in their proper
place at 1413-6, but merely of the merry clattering of cups and
covers which sounded like music. The general meaning is well
brought out in Miss Weston's translation (though the meaning
of rok (see 1514 n.) is misunderstood) :
The bowls so bright, with wine they swiftly fill,
Rich metal, touching metal, rang full loud
As men to catch the cups together crowd,
Clashing, the maids the covers cast away,
As song from psaltery ring the sounds so gay.
Hit must refer to the wine (1508) ; the ‘renkkes (1514) are the
‘swyfte swaynes' (1509) who quickly seize the cups and run to
catch the wine which is being poured.
1514. rok. M. defined ‘crowd, throng,' and connected with
Scot, rok (see NED., s. v. ruck). Bateson and Gollancz both accept
this meaning, but though the latter finds a possible parallel for the
figurative use of rok in Destr . Troy 7 149, his explanation of pat
ryche rok as ‘the rich crowd of liveried servants' seems far-fetched.
It is more probable that the word is ME. rok(ke) ( roche ), OF.
roque (roche), here used in the figurative sense of ‘castle.' NED .
does not record this sense in English, but it is frequent in OF.
Godefroy, s. v. roche (under which he includes the forms roque,
roke) defines ‘chateau fort bati sur une roche,' *nd La Curne de
Ste.-Palaye gives a definition ‘chateau, forteresse,' s. v. roche 2,
citing an example from the Roman d’ Alexandre (c. 1177). Another
sufficiently early OF. example (quoted by Du Cange, s. v. rocca)
is to be found in Philippe Mousket’s Chronique Rimie (ed. Reif-
f enberg, 1836-8, in Collect, des Chroniques Beiges) 17037-9 •
S'en ot Buiemont de Sesile.
Et cil fu au prendre Andioce,
U il a mainte forte roce.
The meaning ‘fortress, castle/ is extremely common in mediaeval
Lat. (see Du Cange's Glossarium, s. v. rocca, roccha), and is used
in Italian by both Dante and Boccaccio. Tommaso’s Dision. cites
Francesco de Buti, who, in commenting on Dante's ‘sicura quasi
rocca in alto monte' ( Purg . 32. 148), says ‘Rocca si chiama la
fortezza ben fornita.' The alliterative phrase rich rock(s), rock
being employed in its literal sense, occurs at Pearl 68: ‘Where
rych rokke3 wer to dyscreuen,' and Gol. and Gaw. 238: ‘Reirdit
on ane riche roche, beside ane riveir.' In Purity the form with k
and that with ch are used indifferently: rok, 446; roches, 537;
cf. roche, Gaw. 2199; rokkeg, Pearl 68, Pat. 254.
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Notes
II 3
1518. [drynkcz] arn dressed [to]. The line is obviously too
short, and three ways of correcting it have been suggested (see
textual notes). Bateson's insertion of dere is simple, but arn
dressed would then have to mean ‘arose/ and this gives little point
to the line. Gollancz’s general interpretation of the passage ( Mod .
Lang. Rev. 14. 161) is plausible, but his emendation, ‘J>at derrest
[arn dressed], dukez and prynces/ is awkward. Bulbring's pro-
posal ‘[drinkes] arn dressed [for] dukez and prynces,' i. e. ‘pre-
pared for,' is unlikely, because such a statement would not follow
the account of the servants hurrying for the drinks in 11. 1508 ff.
I suggest ‘[drynkez] arn dressed tto] dukez,' etc., i. e. ‘portioned
out to, divided among’ ; cf . defin. 2 c in NED. ‘to arrange amongst ;
to divide,' and examples.
1520. hade hym inhelde. ‘Had poured in for himself,' as
was first correctly explained by Emerson, Mod. Lang. Notes 30. 9.
NED.’s only example of the cpd. inhelde is from Chaucer’s invoca-
tion to Venus, Troilus 3. 44:
Ye in my naked herte sentement
Inhelde, and do me shewe of thi swetnesse.
The simple verb (NED. hield) is common in the sense of ‘pour
out.' NED. followed M., who glossed in helde, ‘in mind, in purpose,
disposed,' inserts under the noun hield, defining ‘inclination,’ but
this is the only example given of this particular figurative meaning.
1543 * romyes. ‘Roars'; a common word in ME. NED. says:
‘Of obscure origin. The synonymous Scottish form runtmis(h)
may indicate an OF. form *rumir, *romir, with lengthened stem
*rumiss-.’ But we do not have to reconstruct a word from which
to derive romy. A form rumier, from Lat. rumigare, is given both
in Korting’s Latein.-Roman. Worterbuch and in Meyer-Ltibke's
Roman. Etymolog. Worterbuch, as a variant of rungier, which is
the regular development in OF. Meyer-Liibke says that the form
rumier is Old Lotharingian. The word appears in Provencal and
Portuguese in the form romiar. Now though Godefroy does not
give the form rumier, he gives as one of his definitions of rongier
( rungier ) ‘rugir/ with two examples. OF. rumier, variant
(dialectal?) of rungier, would naturally be borrowed into English
in the form rumy, romy (both occur in NED.), just as OF.
chastier> ME. chasty. We need not concern ourselves with how
the meaning ‘roar’ developed in OF. But it may be pointed out
that the Latin ruminare, which has exactly the same meaning as
rumigare, has come to mean ‘snore’ in one of the examples given
by Du Cange: ‘fortiter dormientem et ruminantem, hoc est, ster-
tentem, ronchissantem/
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Purity
114
1584. hc3cd. Gollancz {Mod. Lang. Rev. 14. 161) says f heged =
shouted, called aloud/ not ‘hied* (i. e. hastened) ; but where does
he find this verb, ME. hege, ‘shout*? Bateson’s objection to the
forms heged, for higed, is unwarranted; cf. Knigge, p. 44.
1594. in len>e of dayes. The expression occurs again at Pearl
416, translating, as Osgood notes, the Biblical ‘in longitudinem
dierum/ Ps. 22. 6; 92. 5 (Vulg.).
1598. Cf. 1608 and 1627. The Vulg. has spiritum deorum sanc-
torum (Dan. 5. 11) and spiritum deorum (Dan. 5. 14).
1602. mony anger. Cf. 43 n.
1616. wayne. The verb wayne, which Skeat {Trans. Phil. Soc.
1885. 7. 365) considered a ‘ghost-word/ a mere miswriting or
misreading of wayue, certainly existed in ME., as it occurs in
Pearl (131, 249) in rhyme. It is used in a variety of senses, the
exact meaning being difficult to determine in particular instances,
and has been derived from ON. vegna, ‘proceed/ OF. (Northern)
waignier { gaaignier , the Central F. form borrowed later as gain),
‘gain, acquire/ and finally from OE. *wagnan, found only in the
cpd. bewcegnan, Beowulf 1193, where it means ‘offer.* From the
apparent meaning of the word in this line {Pur. 1616) and 1701,
it would seem that in some cases, at least, the word may be bor-
rowed from OF. waignier (see Godefroy, s. v. gaaignier), an
etymology which M. proposed in his glossary, but which Matzner
{Sprachproben) rejected with reference to Gaw. 264, in favor of
*wcegnan. The latter derivation seems to fit some of the instances
in Gaw. better; but it is possible that two original independent
words have coalesced in ME. wayne. As wayne in the poems of
this group, at least, is always transitive {Gaw. 264, 984, 1032, 2456,
2 459J Pearl 131, 249; Pat. 467), there is no good reason for
appealing to ON. vegna. The easy confusion with wayue increases
the difficulty of determining the exact meaning of the word.
1634. tede lettres. M. suggested that tede was an error for
tene {—ten), but Gollancz explained tede as ‘tied* (see report
of paper read before the Philological Society in Athen. 1894. 2. 646).
This is probably the correct explanation, as the lines paraphrase the
Vulgate ‘ligita dissolvere* (Dan. 5. 16), just as ‘unhyles uch hidde*
of 1628 paraphrases ‘obscura interpretari* of the same verse. Cf.
also the expression in Gaw. 35 : ‘With lei letteres loken.*
1638. Cf. Piers Plow. C. 1. 178: ‘Bere by3es of bry3t gold al
aboute hure neckes* ; cf. further, Introd., p. xxx.
1642. Cf. Introd., p. 61, for the omission of Dan. 5. 17.
1647-8. The Vulg. (Dan. 5. 19) makes no contrast here: ‘Quos
volebat, interficiebat ; et quos volebat, percutiebat.* The Authorized
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Notes
IX 5
and Revised Versions translate: ‘Whom he would he slew; and
whom he would he kept alive / where the Wycliffite versions had
‘smote/ The two renderings depend on the double meaning of the
original Hebrew. The poet probably introduced the contrast of
his own accord, since the parallel clauses of the Vulgate imme-
diately following make it plain that a contrast is intended^ ‘Et
quos volebat, exaltabat; et quos volebat, humiliabat’ (translated,
1649-50).
i66x. blasfemy on to blame. M/s first reading blasfemy on is
preferable to his second blasfemy on. For the position of on before
the infin., compare ‘on to pyche/ 477; ‘on to sene/ Pearl 45.
1664-70. This reflects Dan. 4. 27-8.
1675. Cf. Pat . 392: ‘Ne best bite on no brom, ne no bent nau]?er/
1687. A puzzling line. M. glosses ‘His thighs grew thick/ and
Miss Weston translates:
His thighs beneath his trunk waxed thick enow.
This makes a modicum of sense, but I do not see how this meaning
can be got out of the line as it stands. Accepting thyge as ‘thighs/
the line runs literally: ‘By that time many thick thighs crowded
about his flesh/ But how can Nebuchadnezzar have many thick
thighs? And if he did, how could they possibly ‘}>ry3t umbe his
lyre'? I believe that thyge is not a noun at all, but the verb, the
pret. 3 pi. of ME. the, OE. peon, ‘to grow, increase' (see NED., s. v.
thee, v. 1 ) reflecting here the crescerent of Dan. 4. 30 which is being
paraphrased in this passage (see Appendix for the Vulg. version) ;
prygt would then be a past participle used as an adjective or adverb
(cf. the use of prygt in 135). The bold use of mony pik without a
noun, meaning ‘many thick hairs or tufts of hair' (glossing Vulg.
capilli ), would at first sight seem a valid objection to this interpre-
tation. But one may compare the equally bold absolute use of
mony in 1692, where per mony clyvy must mean ‘where many
(hairs) cling together/ The substantive use of adjectives is
remarkable in Gawain (see Schmittbetz's Das Adjectiv in Syr Gaw.,
Engl. Stud . 32. 359-69). Among the examples cited by Schmittbetz
may be noted particularly: gep mony, 284; mony ioyleg, 54 2; also
pe sylueren, 124, for ‘the silver dishes'; pe scharp, 424, 1593, 1902,
2313, 2332, for ‘the sharp weapon'; pe fresche, 122, for ‘the fresh
meat.' This construction accepted, the line would mean: ‘By that
time many thick (tufts of hair) were growing about his flesh.'
1689. M. compares Morte Arth. 1078: ‘His fax and his fore-
toppe was filterede togeders.'
1690. sch[e]re-wykes. M., accepting the MS. schyre, defined
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‘bare/ a meaning which the word never has in the alliterative poems
or elsewhere in ME. We should expect Nebuchadnezzar's hair to
fall from his shoulders to the middle of his body. No^ ME.
schare, schere (OE. scearu) is the regular word for the groin, or
private parts; ME. wyke , ‘corner, angle' (ON. vik, OE. wic), is
generally used with some qualifying word, referring to a part of
the body; Bradley-Stratmann cites wike of pe eghe, Catholicon
Anglicum, p. 417, and wykez, Gaw. 1572, where the word refers to
the corners of the mouth (cf. ON. munnvik, and wick of modern
English dialects). I assume, therefore, that the original word here
was a compound schere-wykes, meaning ‘pubic corners' or ‘groin.'
1694. His browes bresed. Bresed, ‘bristled,' is here the pret.
of the verb, as is plain from the context. NED. assumed that it was
a part, adj., as in Gaw . 305, where the Green Knight ‘bende his
bresed bro3e3.' NED., which cites only these two examples, makes
the word unnecessarily mysterious; it suggests no derivation nor
etymologically connected word, and defines ‘Perhaps : Bristly,
shaggy, rough.' That brese is really a verb meaning ‘bristle’ can
hardly be doubted, since the corresponding noun bresse, ‘bristle/
occurs in the alliterative Thomas d Becket, where it is said that
the Boar will ‘nocht ster bresse for all bare sterne werdis' (128) ;
the form brisse occurs in the same poem in 1 . 105, and Jamieson
cites bress from Dunbar (Matzner, s. v. bresed, compares Scot.
bress). NED. gives one form with metathesis: brust, s. v. birse,
sb., 1 OE. byrst; but it should also have given these forms bresse,
brisse from Thomas d Becket (c. 1360). None of the birs(e)
forms (i e. forms without final -f) cited by NED. are earlier than
the 16th century.
1695. campe hores. Chaucer uses the same expression in describ-
ing Lycurgus in the Knighfs Tale 1276:
And lyk a griffon loked he aboute,
With kempe heres on hise browes stoute.
1697. paune. Gollancz would read pauue (see textual notes),
but the plural seems to be required by the context, and the spelling
uu for w would be anomalous. The form paune is not impossible;
cf. the analogical -en in trumpen, 1402.
1703. l[o]ved. Knigge, p. 26, says: ‘Ein interessanter Schreib-
fehler ist B 1703: laued fur loued ( lofjan ). Der Schreiber sah
ou = ov fur den Diphth. ou an, und dafiir schrieb er au. M. setzt
unnotigerweise ein ? hinter sein mit Recht vermutetes loued. f
1772. Porros of Ynde. Porus of India does not, of course,
appear in the Bible, but his association with Darius was familiar
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Notes
117
through the Alexander legend; compare, for example, Alex . C.
3182-3 :
How )>at ser Dary with his dukis eft drissis him to fi3t,
Had prayd eftir powere to Porrus of ynde.
1776. sca[l]ed. MS. scoped. This emendation, which is surely
necessary, gives an earlier instance of scale than NED., whose first
example is from Morte Arth. 3034: ‘Skyftis his skotiferis and
skaylis the wallis.*
1777. Neilson compares Destr. Troy 4751 : ‘Layn ladders alengt
& oloft wonnen/
1805. upon J>rynne wyses. Cf. Introd., p. xlv.
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PREFATORY NOTE TO THE GLOSSARY
The glossary aims to record, with the exception of the articles,
not only every word, but in all but the commonest words, every
instance of each form of a word. No omission has been made
unless the numbers are followed by ‘etc.' When the designations
of mood and tense are omitted, supply pres, ind.; when the mood
only, supply ind. When the preterite forms of weak verbs are not
given, they end regularly in -(e) d. To save space, many verbal
and nominal forms have been condensed by means of the hyphen.
This division is merely a mechanical device, and does not mark the
morphological ending. The dash always represents the form in
black-face type, and never refers to the form immediately preceding,
e. g. ‘abyde . . . inf. 764; abide 856; 3 sg. -z, 436/ simply
means that the form in 1. 436 is abydez.
In order not to multiply cross-references unnecessarily, forms
spelled with i are recorded under y without being listed under i.
p follows t; initial g follows y, but medial g follows g. It has not
seemed advisable in the etymologies to attempt to define in each
case the exact relationship of the Middle English word to the one
from which it is derived or to which it is related; when the rela-
tionship is indirect, the etymon is preceded by ‘Cf.’ Thus the
unnecessarily elaborate statement that a3ly, adv.,, is from a ME.
adj., agly, which is formed from a ME. n., age, which in turn is
derived from ON. agi, is condensed into *Cf. ON. agi / No etymol-
ogy is given for a word obviously derived from the one preceding
or following, if the derivative is found only in Middle English.
Similarly no etymology is given for a compound if it is found
only in Middle English, and the simple word(s) occur in the text.
Since most of the words derived from Old English come from
Mercian forms, the Mercian form is generally given after the West
Saxon, though it is only specially so marked in exceptional cases.
The asterisk indicates a form differing from that of the manuscript.
The definitions of words are of necessity sometimes purely con-
textual, since the alliterative verse frequently requires a considerable
extension or modification of the original meaning of a word. The
following abbreviations are used:
AN.
Anglo-Norman.
Flem.
Flemish.
Fris.
Frisian.
LOE.
Late Old English.
MDu.
Middle Dutch.
MHG.
Middle High German.
MLG.
Middle Low German.
NF.
Norman French.
Norw.
Norwegian.
OF.
Old French (Central).
OHG.
Old High German.
OM.
Mercian dialect of Old English.
ON.
Old Norse (Icelandic).
ONth.
Northumbrian dialect of Old English.
OS.
Old Saxon.
OSw.
Old Swedish.
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GLOSSARY
A.
Aa, interj^ O, 733.
abate, v. tr., put an end to: inf.
1356. OF. abatre.
abayst, pp., abashed, confounded,
149. OF. abaiss-, from abair.
Abdama, prop, n., Admah, 958
(Gen. 10. 19). Lat. Adama.
abof, adv., above, 1409, 1464, 1481:
above, 1382. OE. abufan.
abof, prep., above , 38, 1120. OE.
abufan.
abominacion, n., abomination: pi.
-es, 1173. OF. abomination,
aboute, adv., around, round about,
83, 346, 443, 483, 618, 1390, 1424,
1475: abowte, 30. OE. abutan.
aboute, prep., round about , 78, 817,
956, 1185, 1294, 1417, 1694; near ,
in, 1251: aboutte, 1084; abowte,
1638. OE. abutan.
Abraham, prop, n., 601, 604, 643,
678, 688, 713, 745, 761, 924, 1001 :
Abram, 647 ; Habraham, 682 ;
gen. sg. Abrahamez, 650. Lat.
Abraham.
abyde, v. intr., abide, remain, 365,
436, 1673; tr. await, 486, 764,
856: inf. 764; abide, 856, 1673;
3 sg. -z, 436, 486; pret 3 sg.
abod, 365. OE. abidan.
abyme, n., abyss, 214, 363, 963. OF.
abi(s)me.
abyt, n., clothing, 141. OF. (h)abit.
achape, v. tr., escape: pret. 3 sg.
970. OF. eschaper, achaper.
achaufe, v. tr., kindle, arouse: pp.
1143. OF. eschaufer.
Adam, prop, n., 237, 258. Lat.
Adam.
adoun, adv., down, 953. OE.
adune<of dune.
adre3, adv., away, off, 71. See
dry3, adj.
afraye, v. tr., disturb, arouse: pret.
3 pi. 1780. OF. effreier.
after, adv., afterward, 261, 570,
1050, 1239, 1530; behind, 503.
OE. after,
after, conj., 442.
after, prep., 6, 420, 681, 770, 857, 930,
1639, 1750, 1796; for, 619, 1098,
1345; temporal, 650, 1755. OE.
after.
agayn, adv., again, 1705: a3ayn,
665. OE. ongean, -gegn; infl.
by ON. I gegn.
agayn, prep., against, 1228; con-
trary to, 266, 826; agayne, 826.
agaynes, prep., against, 1711 ; con-
trary to, 61 1 : agaynez, 61 1.
agayntote, n., looking back , 931.
Cf. OE. totian, v.
age, n., 426, 656. OF. age.
a3ly, adv., fearfully, dreadfully, 874,
937. Cf. ON. agi, n.
a3t, adj., eight, 24, 357; as pron.,
a3te, 331. OE. eahta, ahta.
a3t, v., see 03c.
astsum, adj., one of eight, 41 1.
al, adj., all, 2, 5, 260, 339, etc.; the
whole, 264, 313, 323, 355, etc.;
as pron., everything, 17, 19, 259,
308, etc. ; everybody, 62, 163, 393,
1231 ; referring to both men and
animals, 360, 361, 362: sg. al,
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17, 59, 249, 779, etc., alle, 260,
339, 396, etc.; pi. alle, 2, 5, 42,
hi, etc.; gen. pi. in cpds. al)>er-
(q. v.). OE. eall, all. See also
alle-kynez.
al, adv., wholly, quite, completely,
247, 345, 381, 488, 643, 834, 891,
1003, 1 1 14, 1254; very much,
greatly, 715, I553J al aboute, 83,
346: alle, 14, 346 , 367, 965- OE.
eall, all.
* alabaundaryne, n., a precious
stone of a red or violet color,
now called 'almandine* : pi. -s,
1470. Lat. alabandina, OF. ala-
baundine.
alarom, n., alarm, 1207. OF.
alarme.
aldest, see olde.
aled, see hale.
aliche, see iliche.
alkaran, n. (properly alkatran),
mineral pitch, 1035. OF. alka-
tran, Arab, al-qatran.
alias, inter j., alas, 853. OF.
(h)alas.
alle-kynez, adj., of every kind, 303.
Originally gen. alles cynnes.
OE. eall + cynn.
allyt, 599 (see note).
alofte, adv., aloft, 1183. LOE. on
lofte, ON. a lopti. See also
lofte.
alo3, adv., in a low voice, softly,
670. See I03.
alone, adv., 784, 1512. OE. eall +
an.
along, adv., 769; as adj. in phrase
‘alle alonge day/ all through
the day, 476. OE. andlang.
alose, v. tr., pp., famed, 274. OF.
aloser.
als, also, see as.
also, adv., 65, 88, 340^ 39L 656, 722,
1302, 1323: als, 194, 253, 268,
351, 827, 924, 1033, 1275, 1301,
1526; alee, 1377. OE. eall +
swa.
altogeder, entirely, wholly, 15. OE.
eall + togaedere.
afyerfayrest, super 1. adj., fairest of
all, 1379 * OE. ealra + faegerost.
afyerfynest, superl. adj., finest of
all, 1637. OE. ealra, OF. fin.
afyerrychest, superl. adj., richest
of all, 1 666. OE. ealra + ricost.
afyerswettest, superl. adj., sweetest
of all, 699. OE. ealra + swetost.
alum, n., 1035. OF. alum,
amaffised, perhaps for amattised,
amethystine, 1470.
amaraunt, n., emerald: pi. ama-
raunz, 1470. OF. esmeraude, w.
intrusive n, and perhaps con-
fused with ‘amaranthe/
ame, v. tr., esteem, consider: pret.
1 sg. 698. OF. esmer, Picard
amer.
amen, n., 1812. Lat. amen,
amende, v. tr., rectify, remedy:
pp. 248. OF. amender.
amonest, admonish, warn: 3 sg.
-es, 818. OF. amonester.
among, prep., among, 774 : amonge,
25. Adv. at intervals, 1414. OE.
on gemong.
amount, v. intr., arise: pret. 3 sg.
395. AN. amunter, OF. amonter.
Ananie, prop, n., Hananiah, 1301
(Dan. 1. 6). OF. Ananie.
and, conj., 2, 4, 7, 8, etc.; in ad-
versative sense, often = hut, 208,
265, 805, 935, 1165; if, 73 o, 739,
864, 1346: ande, 1469, 1474, 1625,
1809. OE. and.
angel, see aungel.
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121
anger, n., anger , rage , 5 72 ; fit of
anger, 1602. ON. angr.
angre, adj., sharp, bitter, 1035.
ankre, n., anchor : pi. -z, 418. OE.
ancor.
anon, adv., at ortce, forthwith, 480,
1741. OE. on an(e).
anornement, n., ornamentation,
decoration: pi. -es, 1290. Cf.
ME. ano(u)rn, v. (adapited
from OF. ao(u)rner).
ano)>er, adj., another, a second, 469,
481! 1755; as pron. 65, 1668.
OE. an oJ>er.
anoynt, v T tr., anoint: pp. 1446,
1497. OF. enoynt, pp.
anunder, prep., under, beneath, 609,
1206, 1378, 1409. Adv. )>er
anunder, underneath, 1012. OE.
on + under.
any, adj., 30, 76, 420, 548, etc.; pi.
252 ; ani on, 42 : ani, 42, 99, 984.
OE. aenig.
aparaunt, n., dependency, 1007.
OF. aparant.
apere, v. intr., appear: pret. 3 sg.
1533* OF. aper-, from aparoir.
apert, adv., plainly, openly, 1463.
OF. apert.
apparement, n., ornaments, 1270.
OF. aparement.
apple, n., 241 ; apple garnade,
pomegranate, 1044. OE. aeppel.
aproche, v. intr., approach: inf.
68, 147 (tr.) ; 3 pi. -n, 8; ?pres.
subj. 2 sg. aproch, 167; pret.
3 pi. 1781. OF. aprocher.
apyke, v. tr., adorn, array, 1637:
pp. 1479. Etym. obscure,
araye, v. tr., dress, attire, 134, 812,
816; set in order, 144 2; adorn,
1458: pp. (all cases). OF.
areier.
arc, see ark.
are, adv., before, 438, 1128. ON. ar.
arest, v. intr., stop: pret. 3 sg.
arest, 766. OF. arester.
ar3e, v. intr., be afraid, disheart-
ened, 713; tr., frighten, 572:
pret. 3 sg. 572, 713. OE. eargian.
ark, n., 317, 329, 335, 357, 411, 479,
485: arc, 413. OE. earc.
arm, n., pi.: -ez* 643; -es, 1667.
OE. earm.
Armene, adj., Armenian, 447. OF.
Armenie, n.
armes, (pi. only) n., arms, weapons,
1306; ledes of armes, 1773. OF.
armes.
as, adv., like, as, 208, 222, 284, 456,
554, 556, 577, 639, 641, 695, 750,
783, 838, ion, 1018, 1022, 1269,
1319, 1656, 1675 ; after neg.
so much as, 579; such as, for
example, 7, 14, 179, 1035, 1044,
1093, 1301, 1576; introd. inf.,
520, 567 ; introd. noun in apposi-
tion, 1007, 1217, 1324, 1748; in
phrases: als(o) tyd, 64, 935,
1099, 1213; als (as) fast, 440,
1648, 1751; as bylyve, 1239; as
swy)>e, 1619; correl. with ‘so/
‘such/ 190, 202, 640, 748, 1046,
1075, 1076; correl. with ‘as/
‘als/ ‘also/ 886, 984, 1046, 1134,
1516, 1527: als, 64, 1068, 1134,
1324, 1648, 1730, 1751; also, 984,
1045, 1099, I 79 2 * OE. eall +
swa.
as, conj., as, just as, 25, 29, 51, 95,
no, 203, 223, 226, 297, 348, 351,
360, 41 1, etc.; according as, 92;
while, 133, 443, 645, 769, 784, 787,
1520; as if, as though, 82, 611,
671, 1142, 1466, 1484, 1527, 1581;
also as, just as, 1618; as sone
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as, 219; als much as, 1730;
)>er(e) as, where, when, 24, 769.
OE. call + swa.
asayl, v. tr., assail: pret. 3 sg. 1188.
OF. asaillir.
ascapc, v. intr., escape; tr. 569:
pret. 3 sg. 569; 3 pi. asscaped,
1776. NF. escaper, ascaper.
ascry, n., outcry, alarm, clamor,
1784: askry, 1206; asscry, 838.
OF. escrie.
asent, n., accord, in phrase ‘in
asent/ together, 788. OF. as-
sent.
ask, v. tr., ask, 924, 1098; require,
2, 1127, 1742; seek, 1109: 2 sg.
-es, 1109; 3 sg. -ez, 2; -es, 1127;
3 pi. ask, 1098; pret. 3 sg. 924,
1742. OE. ascian.
askez, n., in pi., ashes, 626, 736,
1010 : askes, 1048, 1292. OE.
asce, sg.
aspaltoun, n., asphalt, 1038. OF.
asphaltoun.
asse, n., ass, 1086 : pi. -s, 1676. OE.
assa.
assemble, v. intr., 1364: tr. 1769;
pp. 1769. OF. assembler.
assyse, n., manner, fashion, 639:
asyse^ 844. OF. assise.
asure, n., lapis lazuli, 1411: azer,
* 457 * OF. asur, azur.
astele, v., escape from, slip from
(w. dat.) pret. 3 sg. astel, 1524.
OE. set + stelan.
at, prep., 40, 70, 94, 95, etc.; of,
924; from, 1619; according to,
348; with both casual and tem-
poral meaning, 632, 1163; in
idiomatic phrases: at a brayde,
539; at ese, 124; at J>e last(e),
446, 888, 1096, 1193; at lyttel,
1710; at onez, 402, 519, 566, 672,
732, 909, 963, 1086, 1672; at )>is
onez, 624, 801; at a slyp, 1264.
OE. aet.
atlyng, vbl. n., purpose, intention,
688. See attle.
a-traverce, adv., crosswise, 1473.
OF. a travers.
attle, v. tr., ordain: pp. 207. ON.
j£tla.
attyre, v. tr., attire: pp. 36; atyred,
1 14. OF. atirer.
atwappe, v. tr., escape: inf. 1205.
See wappe.
a)>el, adj., noble, illustrious, excel-
lent, fine ; 207, 258, 329, 41 1, 76 1,
940, 1276, 1314, 1443, 1451. OE.
aeSele.
* aucly, adj., awry, amiss, 795 (see
note) .
aunceter, n., forefather: gen. sg.
-ez, 258. OF. ancestre.
aune, adj., own, 11, 1659, 1707:
auen, 595, 1222; owne, 75. OE.
agen.
aungel, n., angel: pi. -ez, 207, 240,
895, 937, 94i; -es, 1664; -s,
782, 795; auwgelles, 1081; an-
gelez, 19. OF. angele.
aunter, n., marvel: pi. -es, 1600.
OF. aventure.
auter, n., altar, 10, 506, 1276, 1443,
1451, 1477. OF. auter.
auwhere, adv., anywhere, 30. OE.
a + hwaer.
avaunt, n., promise, 664. Cf. OF.
ava(u)nter, boast.
avay, v. tr., inform: pp. 1311. OF.
avei-, from avier.
avayment, n., exhibition, 1358.
OF. aveiement.
avised, part, adj., determined, 1365.
OF. aviser.
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Glossary
123
avow, v. tr., vow , promise: 1 sg.
664. OF. avouer.
avoy, exclam., fie, 863. OF. avoi.
avyl/v. tr., defile: pret. 3 sg. 1151;
pp. 1713. OF. aviler.
away, adv., 286, 744, 862, 1275;
gone, absent, 1241 ; here away,
hither, 647 (see note). OE. on
weg.
awayl, v. intr., avail: pret. 3 sg.
408. See vayle.
ay, adv., ever, 114, 132, 276, 296, 337,
375, 497, 517, 659, 723, 93i, 975,
976, 978, 1016, 1031, 1080, 1413,
1472, 1544, 1684, 17x1; ay a,
every, 117. ON. ei.
ayre, n., air, 1010. OF. air.
ayre, n., heir; 650, 1709: hayre,
66 6; here, 52. OF. (h)eir.
ayj?er, adj., ayj>er oJ>er, each other,
338, 705. OE. jeghwaeBer,
aegCer.
aywhere, adv., everywhere, 228,
965, *1398, 1403, 1608. OE.
aeghwaer.
Azarie, prop, n., Azariah, 1301
(Dan. 1. 6). OF. Azarie.
azer, see asure.
B.
babel, adj., foolish, 582 (see note),
baboyn, n., baboon: pi. -es, 1409.
OF. babuin.
Babyloyn, prop, n., Babylon, 1149,
1223, 1256, 1372; Babiloyn, 1361,
1373 ; Babiloyne, 1335, 1 666.
OF. Babiloine.
bachler, n., young knight: pi. -ez,
86. OF. bacheler.
badde, adj., wicked, 1228. ?Short-
ened form of OE. bseddel.
bak, n., back, 155, 980, 1412. OE.
baec.
bale 1 , n., conflagration , 980. ON.
bal; cf. OE. bael.
bale 3 , n., evil, harm, woe, 276, 1256.
OE. bealu.
bale, adj., dire, tormenting, 1243.
OE. bealu.
balleful, adj., wretched, 979. OE.
bealofull.
Baltazar, prop, n., Belshazzar, 1333,
1357, 1361, 1395, 1450, 1507, 1537,
1558, 1620, 1 622, 1709, *1746,
1750, 1765, 1787; gen. Baltazar,
1149, 1436. Lat. Baltassar, OF.
Baltazar.
Baltazar, pron. n., Belteshazzar
(Vulg. Baltassar), name given
to Daniel (see Dan. 1. 7), 1610.
balterande, part, adj., stumbling,
hobbling, 103. Cf. Dan. baltre,
Norw. dial, baltre; Yorkshire
dial, baiter.
baner, n., banner: pi. -es, 1404.
OF. banere.
banne, n., proclamation, order, 95,
1361. Cf. OE. gebann.
banne 1 , v. tr., curse, 468; bring a
curse upon, 885 : pret. 3 sg. 468,
885. OE. bannan.
banne 3 , v. tr., ? fortify, ? strengthen:
inf. 620 (see note),
bantel, n. : pi. bantelles, outworks,
1459 (see note).
barayn, adj., barren, 659. OF.
baraine, fern.
bare, adj., 452, 1246, 1254, 1693; as
noun, bare skin, 791 ; quasi-adv.,
only, 1573. OE. baer.
bare, v. tr., show, disclose: pp.
1149. Cf. OE. abarian.
bare-heved, adj., bare-headed, 633.
barer, n., barrier: pi. -es, 1239; -s,
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124
Purity
1263. AN. barrere, OF. bar-
riere.
bamage, n., childhood , 517.
bame, child, 378, 1085, 1709:
barn, 1333; pi. -z, 329, 502; -s,
1248. OE. beam.
baronage, n., baronage, 1424. OF.
baronage.
baroun, n., baron, 1372, 1640: pi.
-es, 1398, 1706; -ez, 82; -z, 1715,
1796. AN. barun, OF. baron,
barre, n., bar, 884 ; barrier, 963 : pi.
-z, 884, 963. OF. barre.
barst, see berst.
base, n. : pi. -s, 1278 ; -z, 1480. OF.
base.
bassyn, n., basin, vessel, 1145: pi.
-es, 1278, 1456. OF. bacin.
bastele, n., tower on wheels: gen.
sg. -s, 1187. OF. bastille.
* batayled, part, adj., fortified with
battlements, 1183. OF. batail-
lier.
bate, v. intr., abate, cease: pret.
3 sg. batede, 440. Cf. OF.
abatre.
batelment, n., battlement, 1459.
OF. *bataillement.
bater, v. intr., beat: pret. 3 sg. 1416.
bat- (cf. OF. battre) + freq.
suffix -er.
baj>e, v. tr., bathe: pret. 3 pi. 1248.
OE. batSian.
bausen, n., badger: pi. -ez, 392.
OF. bausen.
bawelyne, n., bowline, 417. Cf.
ON. bdgllna, Sw. boglina.
bay, n., space between columns, re-
cess, 1392. OF. ba(i)ee.
Bayard, n., 886 (see note). OF.
baiard.
bayn, adv., readily, willingly, 15 11.
Cf. ON. beinn, straight, direct .
bayt, v. tr., bait, feed: pip. (= fat-
tened), 55. ON. beita.
be, v. intr.: inf., 43, 45, 47, etc.;
by, 212^ 356, 1610; 1 sg. am, 736,
747, 1663; 2 sg. art, 142, 145, 345,
728, 923; 3 sg. is, 5, 1 7, 19, etc.;
1 pi. ar, mi; 2 pi. ar, 864; arn,
352; 3 pL ar. 15, 168, 864, etc.
(11 times) ; arn, 8, 55, 162, etc.
(14 times) ; pres. subj. 1 sg. be,
148; 2 sg., 173, 547, 878, 1 1 13,
1133; 3 sg., 83, 234, 474, etc.;
by, 104; bi, 1330; 2 pl. be, 943;
3 pl., 12, 101, 102, etc. ; ben, 103,
165, 353, etc.; pret. ind. 2 sg.
watz, 143; were, 1623; 3 s. wat3,
92, 120, 134, etc. (781 used as
plural) ; was, 126, 257, 373,
1395; 3 pb wern, 84, 89, 119,
etc.; wer, 115, 721, 789, 815,
i55i; were, 118, 274, 1401, etc.;
weren, 112; pret. subj. 2 sg.
were, 1110; 3 sg. were 22, 37,
49, 72 (see note on 1084) ; wer,
1029, 1527; wore, 928; 3 pl.
were, 82, 1074; wer, 360, 607,
618; wern, 113; imper. sg. be,
474, 733, 746, 1061; bes, 904;
pp. ben, 328, 424, 517, etc.;
♦bene, 659 (see note) ; nas
(= ne was), 727, 983, 1226, 1312;
nere (=ne were), 21. OE.
beon.
becom, v. intr., become: inf. 1128.
OE. becuman.
bed, n M bed, 1787 : bedd, 1765 ;
bedde, 834. OE. bedd.
bede, v. tr., offer, 1640; bid, com-
mand (often by confusion w.
bidde, q. v.), 130, 440, 500, 630,
1223, 1246, 1507, 1551, *1559,
1610, 1746: 1 sg. 1640; pret.
3 sg. bede, 130, 500, 1223, 1246,
D igitized by
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125
1507, 1551, 1559, 1610; bed, 440,
630, 1746. OE. beodan.
beden, see bidde.
beke, n., beak, 487. OF. bee.
bekyr, n., beaker, goblet, 1474. ON.
bikarr.
Belfagor, prop, n., Baalpeor, 1526
(Num. 25. 3, etc.). Lat. Beel-
phagor.
Belssabub, prop, n., Beelzebub,
1526 (2 Kings 1. 2, etc.). Lat.
Beelzebub.
Belyal, prop, n., Belial, 1526 (Deut.
13. 13, etc.). Lat. Belial,
bem, n., beam, ray, 603. OE. beam,
bench, n., 130, 854, 1395; benche,
1499, 1640. OE. bene,
bent, n^ field, heath, 1675. OE.
Beonet- in place-names,
berde, n., beard, 1693. OE. beard,
berdles, adj., beardless, 789. OE.
beardleas.
bere, v. tr., carry, 1405, 1412; bring
forth, produce, 584, 649, 1042,
1073; support, hold, 1273, 1480;
possess, in phrase ‘bere lyf/ 333,
1023 ; refl. behave, 582 : inf.
649; 3 sg., -z, 333, 1023; 3 pi.
-s, 1042; pres. subj. 2 sg. bere,
582; pret. 3 sg. ber, 1273; 3 pi.
bere, 1412 ; ber, 1480 ; pres,
part, berande, 1405; pp. bore,
584; borne, 1073. OE. beran.
berfray, n., a movable tower used
to besiege a castle, 1187. OF.
berfrai.
berst, v. tr., burst, break, 963, 1263 ;
intr. 1783: 3 sg. brestes, 1263;
3 pi. brestes, 1783; pret. 3 sg.
barst, 963. OE. berstan, ON.
bresta.
beryl, n., 554, 1132. OF. beril, Lat.
beryllus.
beryng, vbl. n* bearing, behavior,
1060, 1228.
best, n., beast, 288, 333, 528, 539,
1488, 1675, 1682: beste, 532; pi.
-ez, 35L 358, 490, 509; -es, 468,
1000; besttes, 1409; gen. pi. -en,
1446. OF. beste.
best, see god.
bete 1 , v. tr., beat: 3 sg. -s, 1263;
pret. 3 sg. bet, 1292; pp. beten,
1787. OE. beatan.
beteVv. tr., replenish, kindle: im-
per. sg. bete, 627; pp. bet, 1012.
OE. betan.
better, see god, well.
Be^elen, prop, n., Bethlehem, 1073.
Lat. Bethlehem.
beverage, n., 1433, 1717. OF. bev-
rage.
bi, adv., by, 985. See by, prep.
bibbe, v. intr., bib, drink: 3 sg. -s,
1499. Probably Lat. bibere.
bicnowe, v. tr., acknowledge (as
true) : pret. 3 sg. bienu, 1327.
OE. becnawan.
bidde, v. tr., bid, command, request
(often confused w. bede, q. v.) :
3 sg. biddez, 154, 843; byddez,
482; pret. 3 pi. beden, 942; pp.
beden, 95; bedene, 351. OE.
biddan.'
biden, see byde.
bifalle, v. intr. happen: pret. 3 sg.
bifel, 1529; pp. bifallen, 1563;
byfallen, 1629. OE. befeallan,
-fallan.
bifore, adv., of place, 114, 918; of
time, 659, 1152, 1229, 1445: by-
fore, 1 14, 659, 1152. OE. be-
foran.
bifore, prep., of place, 903, '978,
997, 1418, etc.: byfore, 602, 644.
OE. beforan.
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126
Purity
bigge, adj., big, great , large: 1190,
13 77 ; bygge, 43, 1183; byge,
229; superl. bigest, 276; biggest,
1335. Etym. uncertain.
bigge 1 , v. tr., buy: pp. bo3t, 63, 67.
OE. bycgan.
bigge 3 , v. tr., build: pp. 1 666. ON.
byggya.
bikenne, v. tr., deliver: 3 sg. -s,
1296. Cf. OE. cennan; OHG.
bichennan.
bilde, part, adj., built: 1392; bulde,
1 190. OE. byldan.
bileve, v. intr., remain: pret. 3 pi.
1549. OE. belabfan.
bilooghe, adv., below , 116. See
I03.
birle, v. tr., pour drink , 1715; abs.,
1511: 3 pi. -n, 1511; pp. byrled,
1715. OE. byrelian.
birolle, v. tr., drench: pret. 3 sg.
959. See role.
bischop, n., bishop: gen. pi. -es,
1445, 1718. OE. bisceop.
bisege, v. tr., besiege: pret. 3 sg.
1180. Cf. OF. sege, siege .
biteche, v. tr., deliver, commit: inf.
871 ; pret. 3 sg. byta3t, 528. OE.
betaec(e)an.
bitter, adj., 1022. OE. biter,
bityde, v. intr. and impers., happen,
befall: 3 sg. -s, 1804; pres,
subj. 3 sg. bytyde, 522; pret.
3 sg. bitide, 1657; bityde, 1647.
OE. betidan.
blade, n., blade {of a knife) : pi.
-s, 1105. OE. blaed.
blake, adj., black, 221, 747, 1449; as
noun, 1009 : blak, 1017. OE.
blaec.
blame, n., blame, 260; rebuke, 43.
OF. bla(s)me.
blame, v. tr.: inf. 887, 1661. OF.
bla(s)mer.
blande, n., in phrase ‘in bland,'
together, 885. Cf. ON. I bland,
blasfemy, n., blasphemy, 1661 :
blasfamye, 1712. OF. blasfemie.
blast, n., blast (of trumpet) : pi.
-es, 1783. OE. bluest,
ble, n., color, complexion, 791, 1126,
1759. OE. bleo.
blemyss, v. tr., dull: pret. 3 sg.
blemyst, 1421. OF. blemiss-,
from blemir.
blench, n., trick, strategem, 1202.
Cf. OE. blencan, deceive.
blend, v. tr., mingle: pret. 3 pi.
blende, 1788. ON. blanda
(blend, blendr in pres. sg.).
blende, see blynne.
blesse, v. tr., bless: 3 sg. -z, 528;
pp. blessed, 1445 ; blest, 1718.
OE. bledsian, bletsian.
blessed, part, adj., 470, 686, 733.
bio, adj., livid, 1017. ON. blar.
blod, n., blood, 1248, 1446, 1788;
child, 686. OE: blod.
blom, n., flower, blossom: pi. -ez,
1042; -es, 1467. ON. blom.
blonk, n., horse: pi. -ez, 87;
blonkkes, 1392; gen. pi. blonk-
ken, 1412. OE. blonca.
blowe, v. intr., blow, 437; tr. 885:
inf. 437; pret. 3 pi. blwe* 885.
OE. blawan.
blubrande, pres, part., boiling,
surging, 1017. Imitative; cf.
Germ. dial, blubbern.
blusch, v. intr., glance, look: inf.
904; pret. 3 sg. 980, 998, 1537;
bluschet, 982. OE. blyscan; cf.
MLG. bloschen.
blusnande, pres, part., gleaming.
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Glossary
127
shining , 1404. Based on Gmc.
*blus (cf. OE. ablysian).
bluster, stray about: pret. 3 pi. 886.
Cf. LG. blustern.
blyken, v. intr., become pale, 1759;
shine, gleam, 1467: pret. 3 sg.
blykned, 1759; pres. part, as adj.
blyknande, 1467. ON. blikna.
blykke, v. intr., shine: pret. 3 sg.
603. OE. blican.
blynde, adj., blind, 103, 584, 886;
as noun, 1094. OE. blind,
blynde, v. intr„, become dim: 3 sg.
-s, 1126. Cf. OE. ablindian.
blynne, v. intr., cease, 440: pres.
3 sg. -s, 1661; -z, 1812; pp.
blende, 967. OE. blinnan.
blysful, adj., joyful, 1075.
blysse, n., bliss, joy, 237, 260, 473,
1765 ; especially the joy of
Paradise, 177, 546. OE. bliss<
blijjs.
blyj>e, adj., gentle, kind, 1085, 1228;
joyful , 1706. OE. bliCe.
blyj>ely, adv., gladly, kindly, 1718:
blyjdy, 82. OE. bliSlice.
bobaunce, n., boasting, pride, 179,
1712. OF. bobance.
bode, n., command, 979. OE. bod.
bod(e), see byde.
bodworde, n., message, 473.
body, n., 32, 1061; w. reference to
the Eucharist, 11; any one, a
person, 260 : bodi, 260. OE.
bodig.
boffet, n., blow, 43 ; figurative, 885.
OF. buffet.
bo3e, n., bough, 616: pi. -s, 1467,
1481. OE. bog.
bo3(ed), see bo we.
bo3t, see bigge. 2
boke, n., book, 197, 966. OE. boc.
bok-lered, part, adj., learned in
books, 1551. OE. boc + laired.
bol, n., bull, 1682: pi. boles, 55;
bulez, 392. PON. boli; perhaps
OE. *bulla (cf. bulluc) .
bolde, adj., bold, daring, brave, 904,
1372; as epithet with attenuated
meaning, noble, fine, 789, 1333,
1357 , 1424, 1450 , 1537 , 1558 , 1610,
1709, 1746; absol. 81 1. OE.
beald, bald.
bole, n., bole (of tree), trunk, 622.
ON. bolr.
bolle, n., bowl, 1145, *1474: pi. -z,
1511. OE. bolla.
boiled, part, adj., embossed, 1464.
ME. bolle, variant of bolne
(q. v.).
bolne, v. intr., swell: pret. 3 sg.
363; pres. part, as adj. bolnande,
179. ON. bolgna.
bonde, n., bondman, serf, 88. OE.
bonda<ON. bondi.
bone 1 , n., command, 826. ON. bon.
bone 2 , n., bone: pi. -s, 1040. OE.
ban.
bone, adj., good, in phrase bone
chere,’ 28. OF. bon.
boner, adj., kind, compassionate,
733. OF. bonnaire.
bonk, n., hill, ridge, 379, 392, 482;
bank, 86, 363, 383: pi. -ez, 86,
363, 383, 482 ; bonkkez, 392.
OScand. *banke, ON. bakki.
bor, n., boar: pi. -ez, 55. OE. bar.
borde, n., board, 1190; table, 1433,
1717; ship, side of a ship, in
phrases: upon borde, 470;
bynne borde, within board, 452,
467. OE. bord.
borgoun, v. intr., bud: 3 pi. -ez,
1042. OF. bor j oner.
bor3, n., city, 45, 82, etc.; estate,
63: bor3, 63, 834, 878, 1183, 1242,
1377; bur3, 1239, 1292, 1335,
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128
Purity
1666; bor3e, 45, 82, 1061, 1750;
bur3e, 982. OE. burh.
borlych, adj., noble, 1488. FOE.
♦burlic (see Skeat, Academy ,
Mar. 24, 1894).
borne, n., water, flood, 482. OE.
burna.
borne, see bere.
bornyst, see burnyst.
bos, n., cow-stall, 1075. ON. bass;
cf. ONth. bosig.
bos, see byhove.
bosk, n., bush: pi. -ez, 322. Cf.
Sw. buske, Dan. busk.
bosk(ed), see busk,
bost, n., boast, boasting, 179, 1450,
1712. Etym. obscure,
boster, n., boaster, 1499.
bot, n., remedy, help, 1616; bi bot,
to advantage, 944: bote, 1616.
OE. bot.
bot, v. tr., announce, proclaim: inf.
473 (see note). OE. bodian.
bot, adv., only, merely, 335, 747,
803, 833, H45-
bot, conj., 13, 133, 136, 165 etc.; bot
if, unless, 1110, 1360; bot bat,
were it not that, 881. OE. butan.
bot, prep., except, 209, 374, 992,
1056, 1 1 19, 1399, 1535, 1668* OE *
butan.
bote, n., shoe, 1581. OF. bote.
bo)?e, adj., 242, 789, 978, 1035, 1222;
absol, as pron., 824; bo)>e two,
155. ON. ba)>ir.
bobe, conj. correl. : bobe . . .
and, 20, 80, 103, 121, 308, 322, 502,
658, 1086, 1259, 1390, 1788; and
. . . bobe, 11, 57, 187, 794, 832,
1102.
bobem, n., bottom, 1030; valley,
383, 450: bobom, 383; pl. -ez,
450. Cf. OE. botm.
bobemlez, adj., bottomless, 1022.
bougoun, n., a beating instrument:
gen. pl. -z,, 1416 (see note). OF.
boujon.
bounden, part, adj., fastened, built,
322. OE. bunden, pip. of bindan.
bounet, v. intr., betake oneself to,
go: pret. 3 pl. bounet, 1398. Cf.
ON. buinn, pp. of bua, to get
ready .
bounte, n., munificence, 1436. AN.
bunte, OF. bonte.
bour, n., bower, lady’s chamber,
private room, 129, 1075, 1126;
stall, 322 : pl. -ez, 322. OE. bur.
boute, prep., without, 260; obj. un-
expressed, 824. OE. butan.
bowe, v. intr., betake oneself, go,
walk, flee, 45, etc.; bow, be
obedient, 1746: inf. 45, 67, 482,
944, 1746; bo3, 1551, 1750; 3 sg.
-z, 129, 854; pret. 3 pl. 379, 502,
1 373, I79b; bo3ed, 1242, 1706;
imper. pj. -z, 944. OE. bugan.
boweles, n., in pl., bowels, 1250.
OF. bo(u)el, sg.
boy, n., 878. Cf. E. Fris. boi.
boyle, v. intr., boil: 3 sg. -s, ion.
OF. boillir.
braken, n., bracken, fern, 1675. Cf.
Sw. braken.
brasse, n., brass, 1443, 1480 ; as
noun, brass trumpets, 1783 : bras,
1271. OE. braes.
brath, n., violence, fierceness, 916.
Cf. ON. brabr, adj.
braunches, see bronch.
brayd, n., sudden movement; in
phrase ‘in a brayd/ suddenly, at
once, 1507; at a brayde, 539.
Cf. OE. gebregd, and ON.
bragS.
brayden, see browden.
brayn, n., brain, brains, 1248, 1421,
1788. OE. braeg(e)n.
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Glossary
129
bred, n., bread , 620, 636, 1105. OE.
bread.
brede, n., breadth , width , 316. OE.
brsedu.
brede, n., roast meat: pi. -s, 1405.
OE. brade, brede.
brede, v. tr., beget, 257 ; intr., grow,
1482; become, 1558: pret. 3 sg.
bred, 257, 1558; pres. part,
bredande, 1482. OE. bredan.
breke, v. tr., break: pret. 3 sg. brek,
1105, 1239; pp. broken, 1047.
OE. brecan.
brem, adj., fierce, raging, 229.
?OE. breme.
bremly, fiercely, 509.
brende, part, adj., refined by fire,
burnished, 1456, 1488. See
brenne.
brenne, v. tr., burn, 916, 959, 1292;
intr., 509, 1012: 3 sg. -z, 916;
pret. 3 sg. 959; brend, 1292; 3 pi.
brened, 509 ; pres. part, bren-
nande, 1012. ON. brenna.
brent, adj., steep, high: superl.
brentest, 379. OE. brant; cf.
Mod. Sc. brent.
brere, n., briar: pi. -s, 1694. OE.
brer.
brere-flour, n., briar-rose, 791.
brese, v. intr., bristle: pret. 3 pi.
1694 (see note).
brest, n., breast, 1693. OE. breost.
brest, n., disruption, destruction,
229. ON. brestr.
brestes, see berst.
breth, n., breath, 916; savor, smell,
509, 967: brethe, 967; brej>e,
509. OE. braeC.
breve, v. tr., write down, tell: pp.
breved, 197. ON. brefa.
breybe, v. intr., rush: pret. 3 sg.
1421. ON. bregfca.
brode, adj., broad, wide, 129, etc.;
of time^ long, 659; great, 584:
brode, 129, 603, 622, 854, I4<M>
1405, 1694; brod, 584, 659, 1022,
1377 , 1392. OE. brad,
bronch, n., branch, 487 : pi.
braunches, 1464, 1482. OF.
branche.
bronde, n., brand, 1012; sword,
1246: pi. -z, 1012. OE. brond.
bro)?e, adj., angry, wrathful, 149,
1409. ON. braSr.
bro]?ely, adj., vile, bad, 848, 1030 : '
bro]?elych, 848.
broj>ely, adv., basely, 1256.
broker, n., brother, 772. OE.
broSor.
brow, n M eye brow: pi. -es, 1694.
OE. bru.
browden, part, adj.* woven, inter-
twined, 1132; brayden, 1481.
OE. bregdan, pp. brogden.
brugge, n., bridge, drawbridge,
1 187. OE. brycg.
brurd, n., edge, border: pi. -es,
1474. OE. brerd, breord.
brurdful, adv., brimful, 383. OE.
brerdful.
bruse, v. tr., bruise: pp. 1047. OE.
brysan.
brutage, n., temporary parapet,
1190. AN. brutesche, OF. bre- '
tesche.
brych, n., transgression, sin, 848.
OE. bryce.
bryd, n., bird: pi. bryddez, 288;
bryddes, 1482. OE. brid.
brydale, n., wedding- feast, 142.
OE. brydealo.
bry3t, adj., bright, 20, 1278, 1400,
1439, 1441, 1456, 1481, 1511, 1638,
1759, 1783 ; as noun, 470 : comp.
bry3ter, 1 132. OE. beorht, berht,
breht.
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Purity
bry3t, adv., brightly, 218, 603, 1012 :
*bry3te, 1506; superl. bry3test,
1 14. 0E. beorhte.
brymme, n., bank ( bordering
water), 365. Cf. Sw. bram,
MHG. brem.
brynge, v. tr., bring, 82, etc. ; bryng
to resoun, show the meaning of,
explain, 1633: inf. 620; 2 sg.
-s, 1633; 3 sg. -z, 470, 629, 636,
81 1 ; pret. 3 sg. bro3t, 487, 1429;
3 pi. bro3ten, 86, 1375; imper.
sg. bryng, 473, 1433; pi. -z, 82;
pp. bro3t, 95, 1223, 1256, 1439,
1620, 1715, 1717. OE. bringan.
brynk, n., brink, edge : pi. -ez, 384.
Cf. ON. brekka, MLG. brine,
brynston, n., brimstone, 967. Cf.
ON. brennistein.
bukke, n., buck: pi. -z, 392. OE.
bucca.
bulde, see bilde.
bule, see bol.
burde, n., woman, lady, 378, 653,
979: pi. -s, 868, 1247, 1260, 1515;
-z, 80. Etym. uncertain.
bur3(e), see bor3.
bume, n., man, *32, 142, 149, 288,
452, 467, 502, 633, 686, 733, 826,
878, 1223, 1242, 1436, 1620; per-
son, 824; servant, 616: pL. -z,
80, 789; -s, 1202, 1373, 1405,
1551. OE. beorn.
bumyst, part, adj., burnished, 1085 :
bornyst, 554. OF. burniss-,
from burnir.
burden, n^ burden, 1439. OE.
byrCen.
*bus (MS. vus), v. intr., drink:
inf. 1507. Cf. MDu. buizen,
ModE. booze.
busch, n., fbeating, striking, 1416.
Cf. OF. buschier, v.
busily, adv., carefully, 1446. Cf.
OE. bysig, busy.
busk, v. tr., make ready, prepare,
333, 35i; dress, 142; conduct,
1395; refl., betake oneself, go,
633; intr M 834: 3 sg. -ez, 633;
pret. 3 pi. bosked, 834; imper.
sg. busk, 333; bosk, 351; pp.
busked, 142, 1395. ON. bua-sk,
prepare oneself .
busmar, n., scorn, mockery, 653.
OE. bismer.
butter, n., butter, 636. OE. butere.
by, prep., by, near, along, 86, 622,
636, 767, 974, 1039, 1041, 1403,
1424, 1442, 1590, 1761; express-
ing means, agent, cause, manner,
62, 104, 11 7, 600, 608, 712, etc.;
with distributive meaning, payre
by payre, 338; in phrases: bi
bot, 944; bi cause of, 1519; by
kynde, 865, 1128; bi )>e laste,
1327; by ry3t, 2, 1633; by his
traw]?e, 63, 667; by ]?at, as conj.
and adv., 397, 967, 1211, 1687;
by, elliptically, as conj., by the
time that, 403 ; bi, 985, 1327, etc.
(19 times). OE. be, bi.
byddez, see bidde.
byde, v. intr., abide, wait, remain,
449, etc.; tr., await, 622; endure,
3 2: inf. 32, 449; 3 sg. bidez,
604; 1 pi. byde, 622; pret. 3 sg.
bod, 467, 982 ; 3 pi. byden, 1243 ;
pret. subj. 3 sg. bode, 1030; pp.
biden, 616. OE. bldan.
byfallen, see bifalle.
byfore, see bifore.
bygge, see bigge, adj.
byggyng, n., dwelling, home, 378,
81 1. ON. bygging.
bygynne, v. intr., begin: 3 sg. -z,
280, 359, 947; "S, 1401; pret.
Digitized by
y Google
Glossary
I3 1
3 sg. bigan, 1337; 3 pi- bigonne,
123; pp. bygonnen, 749. OE.
beginnan.
by3e, n., necklace , ring , 1638. OE.
beah.
byholdc, v. ti\, behold, look at: inf.
64 ; beholde, 607 ; 3 sg. -s, 1423 ;
biholdez, 150; pret. 3 sg., by-
helde, 452 ; pres. part, biholdand,
1544. OE. behaldan, -haldan.
byhove, v. impers., behoves, is
necessary: 3 sg. -z, 68, 554; bos
(contracted form), 687; pret.
3 sg. 398. OE. behofian.
byhynde, adv., behind, 155 : bi-
hynde, 904, 918. OE. behindan.
byhynde, prep., behind, 653, 858:
bihynde, 998 ; byhynden, 980.
OE. behindan.
bylyve, adv., quickly, at once, 156,
etc.; soon, 365; as bylyve, as
soon as possible, immediately,
1239: bylyve, 156, 180, 353, 365,
598, 610, 632, 81 1, 829, 962, 991,
1239, 1615, 1650; bylive, 626;
bilyve, 688, 1212. OE. be life,
bynde, v. tr., bind, tie: imper. pi.
-z, 155. OE. bindan.
bynne, prep., within, only in phrase
‘bynne horde,’ 452, 467. OE.
binna(n).
byrled, see birle.
byseche, v. tr., beseech: 1 sg. 799;
biseche, 614. OE. besecean.
bysulp, v. tr., defile, befoul: 3 sg.
-ez, 575. See sulp.
bysyde, adv., hard by, near, after
her, J?er : 673 ; bisyde, 926. OE.
be sidan.
byta3t, see biteche.
byte, v. tr., bite, 1047 ; cause a
sharp pain, 1243 : intr. with ‘on,’
532, 1675: inf. 1675; 3 sg. -s,
532; pp. byten, 1047, biten, 1243.
OE. bitan.
bytterly, adv., bitterly, 468. OE.
biterlice.
bytwene, adv., here and there, 637,
951 : bitwene, 1383, 1410, 1463,
1472. OE. betweonan.
bytwene, prep., between, 703, 707.
OE. betweonan.
bytyde, see bityde.
byj>enk, v. refl., consider, reflect,
582; take into one's head, re-
solve, 125, 1357 : 3 sg. bi>enkkes,
1357; P r et. 3 sg. bi>03t, 125;
imper. sg. by^enk, 582. OE. bi-
}>encan.
C.
cache, v. tr., catch, capture, seise,
take, 898, 1215, 1252, 1296, 1514 ,
1612, 1789, 1800; with ‘away,’
snatch, 1275; conceive, 1426;
receive, 1619; drive, 16; ? fasten,
1254; intr., run, hasten, 629;
fknock, strike, 1541 • inf. I 5 I 41
each, 898, 1252; 3 pl- -n, 16 5
cachches, 1541 ; pret. 3 sg. ca3t,
1426; cached, 629; 3 ph I2 75 »
pp. ka3t, 1215, 1254, 1789; ca 3 t,
1296,, 1612; cached, 1619, 1800.
NF. cachier.
cagge, v. tr., fasten, bind: pp. 1254.
Etym. uncertain.
cal, n., invitation, 61.
Caldee, prop, n., Chaldea: Caldee,
1339, 1362; Caldye, 1575 ; Calde,
♦1231, 1747. Lat. Chaldaea, OF.
Caldee.
Caldee, prop, n., Chaldean: pl.
Caldeez, 1774 ; as adj. 1316;
Calde, 1215, 1562, 1631.
Digitized by ^ooQle
132
Purity
calf, n., 629. OE. cealf, caelf.
calle, v. tr v proclaim , 1564; sum-
mon, call away, 162, 948, 1231,
1562 ; name, call, address as,
8, 258, 1352, 1370, 1583; w.
weakened meaning, be called,
almost=fo, 1015, 1119; ask
( for ), 1522; w. after 1345; in-
voke, 1343; w. on, 1097; w.
upon, address, 14 27: inf. 1370;
3 sg. -z, 948, 1345; -s, 1427;
callz, 1343; 3 pi. -s, 1522; pret.
3 sg. calde, 1583; 3 pi. called,
1097; imper. sg. calle, 1562,
i 5 6 4 ; PP- called, 8, 162, 258, 1015,
1 1 19, 1352; calde, 1231. ON.
kalla.
callyng, n., proclamation, 1362.
Cam, prop. n„ Ham, 299. Lat.
Cham; OE., OF. C(h)am.
campe, adj., shaggy, like whiskers,
1695. ON. kampr, beard.
candelstik, n., candlestick, chande-
lier, 1478, 1532: condelstik, 1275.
OE. candelsticca.
capel, n., horse: pi. -es, 1254. ON.
kapall.
capstan, n., capstan, 418. Cf. Prov.
cabestan.
captyvide, n., captivity (of Jews),
1612. OF. ♦captivite.
carayne, n., carrion, 459. NF.
caroine.
care, n., sorrow, affliction, 234, 393,
777, terror, 1550: kare, 234.
OE. cearu, caru.
careful, adj., sorrowful, 770. OE.
cearful.
carfully, adv., sorrowfully, 1252,
1679.
carle, see karle.
carnel, n., battlement, embrasure:
pi. -es, 1382. OF. carnel, var.
of crenel.
carp, v. intr., speak, talk: 3 sg. -ez,
74; -es, 1591. ON. karpa.
carp, n., discourse, speech, 23, 1327.
carping, vbl. n., speech, 1550.
carye, v. tr., carry: pp. 1765. NF.
carier.
cast, see kest, n.
castel, n., castle: pi. -es, 1458. NF.
castel.
casydoyne, n., chalcedony: pi. -s,
1471. OF. cassidoine.
catel, n., property, 1296. NF. catel.
cause, n., cause, reason, 65, 1119,
1587; bi cause of, 1519: cawse,
65. OF. cause.
cayre, v. intr., go, 85, 901 ; return,
945; pull, 1259; tr. pull, drag
(perhaps confused w. carie),
1478: inf. 945, 1259; pret. 3 pi.
85; imper. sg. cayre, 901; pp.
1478. ON. keyra.
cayser, n., emperor, 1322: kayser,
1593 ; pl. -es, 1374. ON. keisari.
caytif, adj., base, wicked, wretched,
1426: caytyf, 1605. NF. caitif.
certez, adv., certainly, 105. OF.
certes.
cerve, see kerve.
cete, cety, see cite,
chambre, n., chamber, 1586. OF.
chambre.
charge, v. tr., load, 1295; charge,
464, 1258; pp. heavy, hard, 1154;
charged with, laden with, bear-
ing, 1272: pret. 3 sg. 464; pp.
1154, 1258, 1272, 1295. OF.
chargier.
chariot, n., cart, wagon: pl. -es,
1295. OF. chariot.
Digitized by
Glossary
*33
chast, v. tr., restrain: inf. 860. OF.
chastier.
chastyse, v. tr., punish: pret. 3 sg.
543. ?OF. *chastiser.
chaufen, v. tr., warm , increase: inf.
128. OF. chaufer.
chaunce, n., chance , fortune , 1125,
1129, 1154, 1588. OF. cheance.
chaundeler, n., stand or support
for a candlestick , 1272. AN.
chandeler, OF. -ier.
chaunge, v. tr., change , 1258; intr.,
713; chaungande, varying , rapid-
ly shifting, 1588: pret. 3 sg.
* 713 ; PP. 1258. OF. changer,
chayer, n., throne, 1218. OF.
chaere.
chef, adj., chief, main, 1272, 1586,
1588; first, in phrase ‘chef
fader,’ 684.
chef, n., head, commander, 1238.
OF. chef.
cheftayn, n., ruler, 1295: cheve-
tayn, 464. OF. chevetaine.
cheke, n., cheek: pi. -s, 1694. OE.
ceace.
chekke, n.* attack: pi. -s, 1238. OF.
eschec.
chere, n., countenance, appearance,
I 39> 1539; entertainment, 128;
with a bone chere, joyfully, 28;
make god chere, make merry,
he cheerful, 641 : cher, 128. OF.
ch(i)ere.
cherisch, v. tr., hold dear, take care
of , 543, 1154, 1644; entertain,
128: inf. 128; cherych, 1154;
pret. 3 sg. cheryched, 1644; pp.
cherisched, 543. OF. cheriss-,
from cherir.
chese, v. tr., choose: pp. chosen,
684. OE. ceosan.
chevalrye, coll, n., knights, 1238.
OF. chevalerie.
cheve, v. intr., happen: pres. subj.
3 sg. cheve, 1125. OF. chever.
chorl, n., serf, 1258; as term of
contempt, villain, 1583: pi. -es,
1258, 1583. OE. ceorl.
chosen, see chese.
chyde, v. intr., rail, scold: inf. 1586.
OE. cldan.
chylde, n., child, 1303; descendant,
684; in phrase ‘moder chylde,’
1303: pi. childer, 1300; gen. pi.
chyldryn, 684. OE. cild.
chyn, n., chin: pi. chynnez, 789.
OE. cinn.
chysly, adv., carefully, 543. Cf.
OE. els, fastidious.
cience, see syence.
cite, n., city: cite, 673, 926; cete,
78, 1185, 1559, 1615, 1795; cety,
679, 722; pi. citees, 968, 1015;
cities, 940 ; ceteis, 958. OF. cite,
clam, see climme.
clanly, adv., purely, chastely, 264,
1089; neatly, 310; courteously,
1621; wholly, 1 327: clanlych,
310. OE. claenlic.
clannes, n., purity, 12, 1087, 1809:
clannesse, 1, 26. OE. claenness.
clary oun, n., clarion, 1210. Late
Lat. clarionem, perhaps OF.
♦clarion (regularly clair on),
clat, v. intr., beat: 3 pi. clatz, 839.
Cf. clatter, and Mod. Dial. clat.
clater, v. intr., rattle, echo, 9 72 ;
crash, he shattered, 912 : inf.
912 ; pret. 3 pi. 972. OE.
clatrian.
clatering, vbl. n., clattering, 1515.
clawre, n., claw: pi. -s, 1696. Cf.
OE. clawu.
Digitized by ^ooQle
*34
Purity
clay, n., 312, 346, 1034, 1547; clay
wall, 1618. OE. claeg.
clay-daubed, part, adj., plastered
with clay, 492.
clayme, v. tr., call for, beg: pret.
3 pi. 1097. OF. claim-, from
clamer.
cleche, v. intr., w. to, seize on,
grasp, 634, 1348; tr. obtain, 12:
3 sg. -z, 634; -s, 1348; 3 pl.
cleche, 12. POE. ♦clacean.
clef, see cleve.
cle3t, see clicche.
cleme, v. tr., plaster: imper. sg.
cleme, 312. OE. claeman.
clene, adj., clean, pure, chaste, 17,
19, 27, 1 19, 165, 554, 634, 730,
1053, 1056, 1067, 1072, 1085, 1088,
1101, 1109, 1 1 10, 1288; of beasts,
334, 508; exact, 1731; w. weak-
ened meaning, fair, bright, 792,
1 1 19, 1458: comp, clener, 1072.
OE. claene.
clene, adv., in a clean manner, 175,
1100; fairly , skilfully, 1287,
1382, 1455; clearly, 1606: comp,
clanner, 110a OE. claene.
cleng, v. intr., cling: 3 sg. -s, 1034.
OE. clingan.
clepe, v. intr., call: 3 sg. -s, 1345.
OE. cleopian.
cler, adj., clear, bright, 792, 1128,
1456, 1471, 1532, 1569, 1744; fair,
1400; of sound, 1210; plain,
easily understood, 26, 1056 :
clere, 1400, 1456, 1471 ; comp,
clerer, 1128; clerrer, 1056;
superl. clerest;, 1532. OF. cler.
clergye, n., clergy, 1570. OF.
clergie.
clerk, n., scholar, learned man, 193,
1562, 1575, 1579, 1583, 1631;
priest, 1266: pl. -es, 1575, 1579,
1583, 1631; -ez, 193; clerkkes,
1266, 1562. OE. and OF. clerc.
clemes, n., splendor, 1353.
cle)>e, v. tr., clothe, dress: inf. 1741.
OE. claeCan.
cleve, v. intr., cleave, split: pret.
3 sg. clef, 367 ; 3 pl. cloven, 965.
OE. cleofan.
clicche, v. tr., hold, 1655 > intr.
fasten, 858; stick, 1692: pret.
3 sg. cle3t, 858, cly3t, 1692; pp.
cle3t, 1655. (The form ‘cle3t’
may belong to ‘cleche.’) OE.
clyccean.
climme, v. tr., climb, ascend: pret.
3 sg. clam, 405. OE. climban.
clobbe, see klubbe.
Clopyngnel, prop, n., Clopinel, 1057
(see note).
clos, n., enclosure, 1088 ; house,
839. OF. clos.
clos, pp. as adv., fast, 858, 1655;
? secretly, 512. OF. clos, pp.
close, v. tr., close, shut, 310, 346;
enclose, 12, 1070; fasten, 1569;
intr., 1541: inf. 1541; pp. clos,
12, 1070, , 1569; closed, 310, 346.
OF. clos-, from clore.
clo>e, n., cloth, 634, 1637, I74 2 ; pl.
clothes, garments, 1440; bed-
clothes, 1788: cloJ>, 1742; pl.
-s, 1400, 1440, 1788. OE. clatS.
clo>e, v. tr., dress: pp. 135. OE.
clatSian.
cloven, see cleve.
clowde, n., cloud: pl. -ez, 414, 951;
cloudes, 972; clowde, 367. OE.
clud.
clowt, n„, piece, shred: pl. -ez, 367;
cloutes, 965. OE. clut.
cluchche, v. intr., bend: 3 sg. -s,
1541. Var. of ME. clicche
(q.v.).
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
i35
cluster, v. intr. : pp. 367, 951. Cf.
OE. cluster, n.
clutte, part, adj., patched , 40. Cf.
OE. geclutod, pp.
Clyde, n., plaster, 1692. OE. cliSa.
clyffe, n., cliff, 405, 460 : pi. -z, 965.
OE. clif.
cly3t, see clicche.
clyket, n., latch, 858. OF. cliquet.
clyppe, v. tr., fasten: inf. 418. OE.
clyppan.
clyve, v. intr., stick, cling, 1630;
cling together, 1692: 3 sg. -s,
1630; 3 pi. clyvy, 1692. OE.
clifian.
cue, see kne.
cnowen, see knawe.
cof, adj., quick, 624. OE. caf.
cof, adv., quickly, 60, 898.
cofer, n., coffer, chest, 1428; ship,
ark, 310, 339, 492: pi. -es, 1428.
OF. cofre.
cofly, adv., quickly, 1428.
coker, n., stocking, legging: pi.
cokrez, 40. OE. cocer, quiver .
colde, adj., cold, 60, 1591. OE.
ceald, cald.
cole, n., coal, 456. OE. col.
coler, n., collar, 1569, 1744. AN.
coler, OF. -ier.
color, v. tr. : pip. 456. OF. colorer.
coltor, n., colter of plough, 1547.
OE. culter.
colwarde, adj., villainous, treacher-
ous, 18 1. Cf. OF. col vert,
com, v. intr., come: inf. com, 54,
61, 70, 191, 1 1 10, 1366, 1368;
come, 467, *703 ; 3 pi. com, 1326 ;
comen, 1680; pret. 2 sg. 878;
3 sg. 361, 1088, 1089, 1339, 1621,
1702; pret. 3 pi. 85, 89; comen,
946, 1093, 1316, 1574; pret. subj.
3 sg. com, 36; imper. pi. comez,
60, 801. OE. cuman.
comaund, v. tr_, command: pres.
3 sg. -es, 1428; pret. 3 sg. 624,
1741; 3 pi. 898. OF. comander.
combraunce, n., trouble, 4.
combre, v. tr., overwhelm, destroy:
3 sg. -z, 1024; pp. 901, 920. Cf.
OF. encombrer, acombrer.
come, n., coming, 1706. Cf. OE.
cyme.
comende, v. tr., commend: inf. 1.
Lat. commendare.
comfort, n., comfort, relief, 492,
1809; encouragement, 512; satis-
faction, joy, 459. OF. confort.
comly, adj., fair, 54, 334, 5<>8, 512,
1070 : comlych, 546. Cf . OE.
cymlic.
comly, adv., fairly, 312.
comparisun, v. tr., compare: pres.
3 sg. -ez, 161. Cf. OF. com-
pareson, n.
compas, n., in phrase ‘in J>e com-
pas of/ in the space or limits
of, in, 319, 1057. OF. compas.
compas, v. tr., plan, devise: inf.
1455; pret. 1 sg. compast, 697.
OF. compasser.
compaynye, n., company, 119. OF.
compaignie.
comynes, n. (in pi. only), common
people, 1747. OF. comun.
con, v., pret. pres., know, be able:
1 sg. con, 1056; 3 pi. con, 1561;
pret. 3 sg. cowJ>e, 1, 381, 1100,
1287, 1700; couJ>e, 531, 813, 1555;
3 pi. cow)>e, 1578, cou)>e, 1576.
OE. cunnan.
con, aux v., did: 3 sg., 301, 344,
768, 1362; 3 pi. 363, 945. ME.
variant of gan, pret. sg. of OE.
ginnan.
Digitized by L^ooQle
136
Purity
concubine, n.: pi. -s, 1353, 1519;
concubynes, 1400. OF. concu-
bine.
conforme, v. refl., conform, make
like: imper. sg. conforme, 1067.
OF. con former.
conning, n., learning, (magic) art,
1611, 1625: pi. coninges, 1611.
Cf. OE. cunnan, know.
conquer, v. tr., win, 1431 ; attain
to, succeed in learning, 1632 ;
pres. subj. 2 sg. conquere, 1632;
pret. 3 sg. conquerd, 1431. OF.
conquerre.
conqueror, n. 1322. OF. con-
querour.
conquest, v. tr., conquer: pp. con-
quest, 1305. OF. conquester.
consayve, v. intr., conceive: inf.
649. OF. conceiv-, from con-
cevoir.
conterfete, v. tr., feign: pres. subj.
3 pi. conterfete, 13. OF. con-
trefait, pp. of contrefaire.
contrare, adj., unnatural, 266; as
noun, 4; in contrary of, oppo-
site, 1532: contrary, 1532. AN.
contrarie.
contre, n., country, 281, 1679;
cuntre, 1362, 1612. AN. cuntre,
OF. contre.
controeve, v. tr., contrive: pret.
3 pi. 266. OF. contreuv-, from
controver.
conveye, v. tr., conduct, 678; fig.
accompany, 768: inf. 678; con-
veyen, 768. OF. conveier.
coperoun, n., top: pi. -es, 1461.
AN. cuperun, OF. couperon.
corage, n., heart, 1806. OF. corage,
corbyal, n., raven , 456. The form
corbyal, with inserted y(i), is
not found elsewhere, and may
possibly be corrupt; cf. corbel,
Gaw. 1355. OF. corbel,
coroun, n., crown, 1444: crowne,
1275. AN. corune, OF. corone.
cors, see course.
corse, n., body, 1072; pers. pron.,
683 (see note). OF. cors.
corse, v. tr., curse, 1033; swear at,
1583; part, as adj., 1800: pret.
3 sg. 1583; pp. 1033, 1800. OE.
cursian.
corsye, n., corrosive: pi. -s, 1034.
OF. corosif.
cort, n., court: cort, 191, 1109, 1368,
1374, 1530, 1562, 1751; corte, 17,
60, 70, 89, 546, 1054. OF. cort.
cortays, adj., gracious, fair, 512.
1089; as noun, 1097: cortayse,
1097. OF. corteis.
cortaysly, adv., graciously, 564,
1435-
cortaysye, n., goodness, 13. OF.
cortesie.
cortyn, n., curtain (of bed), 1789*
OF. cortine.
coruppte, adj M corrupt, 281. OF.
corupt, or Lat. corruptus.
corven, see kerve.
cost 1 , n., contrivance, 1478; prop-
erty: pi. -ez, 1024. ON. kostr.
cost 2 , n., coast; region, country, 85.
1322: coste, 478; koste, 912; pi.
costez, 1024, coostez, 1033;
costese, 460. OF. coste.
costoum, n., custom, 851. OF.
custume.
couhouse, n., cow-shed, 629. OE.
cu + hus.
counsay 1 , n., counsel, 1056, 1201,
1426, 1605, 1619; purpose, 683:
conseyl, 1056, 1619. AN. cunseil,
OF. conseil.
Digitized by
Google
Glossary
i37
count, v. tr., count , 1731; reflex.,
consider , 1685: 3 sg. -es, 1685;
pp. 1731. AN. cunter, OF.
conter.
countenaunce, n., expression , 792.
OF. countenance.
course, n., 264; course at dinner ,
1418: cors, 264: pi. course,
1418. OF. cours, cors.
cout, v. intr., cut: inf. 1104. Etym.
doubtful.
cou^e, part, adj., known , 1054. See
con, pret. pres.
♦ covacle, n., cover: pi. -s, 1461
(see note), -z, 1515. OF.
covescle.
covenaunde, n., covenant, 564. OF.
covenant.
cover, v. tr. : pret. 3 sg. 1440; pp.
1458 (as adj.), 1707. OF. covrir.
covetyse, n., covetousness, 181.
OF. coveitise.
coveyte, v. tr., desire: 2 sg. -s,
1054. OF. coveiter.
cowpe, see cuppe.
cowwardely, adv., miserably, 1631.
Cf. OF. coart.
coyntyse, n., wisdom, skill, 1287,
1632, 1809 ; fine dress, 54 : coyn-
tyse, 1287, 1809; quayntyse, 1632;
quoyntis, 54. OF. cointise,
queintise.
crafte, n., power, skill, wisdom, 13,
549, 1100, 1452; way, custom,
697, 865 ; pi. -z, works, deed,
549. OE. craeft.
crag, n.: pi. -ez, 449. Cf. Welsh
craig.
crak, n., blast, 1210: pi. krakkes,
1403. Cf. OE. cracian, resound,
‘ crack ’
crave, v. tr., beg: 1 sg. 801. OE.
crafian.
Creator, n., 394, 917: gen. sg. -es,
191. OF. creator,
crepe, v. intr., creep: inf. 917. OE.
creopan.
croked, adj., crooked, 1697; wicked,
181. Cf. ON. krokr, hook,
crook.
crone, n., crane: pi. -z„ 58. OE.
cran.
crouk, v. intr., croak: 3 sg. -ez,
459. Prob. echoic ; cf . OE.
cracettan.
crowne, see coroun.
cruppel, n., cripple: pi. -ez, 103.
OE. crypel.
cry, n., cry, 1564; proclamation,
1574 * OF. cri.
crye, v. tr. and intr., cry, call out;
weep; 153, 393, 394, 770, 1080,
1508, 1582; resound, 1210; pro-
claim, 1361, 1751 : inf. 1361 ;
3 sg. -s, 1508, 1582; pret. 3 sg.
153, 770, 1210; 3 pi. 393, 394;
pp. 1080, 1751. OF. crier,
crysolyte, n., chrysolite: pi. -s,
1471. OF. crisolite.
cubit, n., 319; pi. -es, 405; cupy-
dez, 315. Lat. cubitum.
cuntre, see contre.
cupborde, n., sideboard, 1440.
cuppe, n., cup, 1461, 1520: pi.
cowpes, 1458; kowpes, 1510.
OE. cuppa, OF. coupe,
cupple, n., pair, 333. OF. cuple.
cupydez, see cubit.
curious, adj., curious, *1483; skil-
ful, 1452; exquisite, 1353; see
note for 1109: kyryous, 1109.
OF. curius.
D.
da3e, v. intr., dawn: pret. 3 sg.
1755. OE. dagian.
Digitized by ^ooQle
138
Purity
dale, n., 384. OE. dael.
dalt, see dele.
dam, n., water , ocean , 416. OE.
*damm; cf. OFris. dam.
damp, v. tr., damn , doom: pp.
damppied, 989. OF. damner,
dampner.
Danyel, prop, n., Daniel ', 1157, 1611,
1641, 1743, 1753 , 1756 : Daniel,
1302, 1325. Lat., OE. Daniel.
Daryus, prop, n., Darius , 1771 :
Daryous, 1794. Lat. Darius,
dasande, part, adj., dazing , 1538.
ON. *dasa.
date, n., 425. OF. date,
daube, v. tr., plaster: imper. sg.
313. OF. dauber.
daunger, n., refusal, 71 ; danger,
34 2, 416. OF. dang(i)er.
day, n., 361, 427, 445 , 476 , 481, 494 ,
526, 659, 1188, 1364, 1753 , 1755 .
1791, 1794; in pi., duration, 520;
dayez of ende, last days, the
Judgment , 1032; upon dayez,
578: pi. -ez, 295, 353, 369, 403,
429, 442, 520, 578; -es, 1032,
1594 ; gen. pi. -ez, 224. OE.
daeg.
daynty, n., delicacy: pi. -s, 38;
-ez, 1046. OF. daint(i)e.
day-rawe, n., dawn, first streak of
day, 893. Cf. (?) OE. raw.
debonere, adj., gracious, courteous,
830. OF. debonaire.
dece, n., dais: dece, 38, 1399, 1517;
dese, 1 15; des, 1394. OF. deis.
declar, v. tr., interpret: inf. 1618.
OF. declarer.
decre, n„ decree, 1745. OF. decret.
ded, adj., dead, 289, 1016; as pi.
noun, dede, 1096 : dede, 1020.
OE. dead.
dedayn, n., indignation, anger, 74.
OF. dedeyn.
dede, n., deed, performance, act,
74, no, 588: pi. -z, 181, 265, 541,
59i, 597, 1021, 1801; -s, 1061,
1136, 1360, 1659. OE. daed, ded.
defence, n., prohibition, 243, 245.
OF. defense.
defowle, v. tr., defile, pollute: inf.
1147 ; PP. 1129, 1798. OF. de-
fouler.
degre, n., rank, condition, 92. OF.
degre.
d€3t(t)er, see do3ter.
deken, n., deacon; pi. -es, 1266.
OE. deacon.
dele, v. tr., deliver, 1756; utter, de-
liver, 344, 1641; exchange , 1118;
intr. associate, 137; dele wyth,
deal with, 1561 ; in phrase ‘dele
drwry wyth/ have love of, 1065 :
3 sg. -s, 1641; pp. dalt, 1756.
OE. daelan.
delful, adj., doleful, sorrowful, 400.
Cf. OF. doel, deol, grief .
delyver, adj., delivered (of child),
1084. OF. delivre.
delyver, v. tr., deliver, 500; make
away with, destroy, 28 6 : inf.
286, 500. OF. delivrer.
deme, v. tr., decree, no, 1745;
judge, consider, 1118; name,
call, 1020, 1611: pp. (all cases).
OE.. deman.
demerlayk, n., magic, magic art,
*561 ; pi. demorlaykes, 1578.
OE. dwimer + ON. leikr.
demm, v. intr., dam up, fill up:
pret. 3 sg. 384. OE. *demman.
denounce, v. tr., f declare (see
note) : pp. 106. OF. de-
nonc(i)er.
-Btg-itizedHay
Geogle
Glossary
*39
depart, v. tr., divide , 1738; intr.
separate , 1074; S° away, leave,
396, 1677: pret. 3 sg. 396, 1677;
3 pi. 1074; pp. 1738. OF. de-
partir.
depe, adj., deep , 374 , 384, 416, 852;
profound, 1609; great, 1425.
OE. deop.
depe, adv., far down, 158. OE.
deope.
depryve, v. tr., dispossess, divest,
1227, 1738; take away, 185: pp.
1227, 1738. OF. depriver.
dere, adj., worthy, noble, 92, 115,
1302, 1306, 1367, 1771 , 1794 , 1806;
as n., sg. 1399; pi. 1394; be-
loved, 52 , 814; costly, valuable,
1 1 18, 1279, 1743, 1792; in less
precise senses, often w. meaning
hardly determinable : precious,
important, excellent, worthy,
683, 698, 1604, 1609 : superl. der-
rest, 1 15, 1 1 18, 1306. OE. deor.
dere, adj., harsh, severe, 214. OE.
deor.
dere, v. tr., harm: imper. pi. -z,
862. OE. derian.
derelych, adv., excellently, beauti-
fully, 270. OE. deorlice.
derf, adj., bold, dreadful, 862. ON.
djarfr.
derfly, adv., boldly, 1641 ; quickly,
632: dervely, 632.
derk, adj., dark, 1020; as noun,
night, 1755. OE. deorc.
deme, adj., secret, hidden, 588;
profound, 1611. OE. dierne,
derne.
deme, adv., secretly, 697.
dervely, see derfly.
dese, see dece.
desyre, v., desire: 2 sg. -s, 545;
pres. subj. 3 sg. dezyre, 1648.
OF. desirer.
dej>e, n., death: dej>e, 246, 1021,
1249, 1266, 1787; deth, 372, 374,
1648; dethe, 1032. OE. deaS.
devel, n., (the) Devil , 1500; gen.
sg. -ez, 180. OE. deofol.
device, see devyse.
devine, n., diviner, prophet, 1302.
OF. devin.
devine, v. tr., interpret: inf. 1561.
OF. deviner.
devinor, n., diviner, soothsayer:
pi. -es* 1578. OF. devinour.
devoutly, adv., 814. Cf. OF. de-
vot(e), adj.
devoyde, v. tr., cast out, destroy:
inf. 908. OF. devoidier.
devoydynge, vbl. n., destroying,
544 .
devyse, v. tr., order, appoint, no,
238; contrive, design, 1100,
1288; conceive, 1046; set forth,
1 15 7, 1325, 1756; expound, 1604:
inf. 1100; device, 1046; pret.
3 sg. 1157, 1604, 1756; devised,
1288; pp. devised, no, 238, 1325.
OF. deviser.
dew, n., 1688. OE. deaw.
deystyne, n., fate, 400. OF. des-
tinee.
dialok, n., discourse: pi. -ez, 1157.
OF. dialoge.
ding, v. tr., w. down, knock down,
strike down: pret. 3 pi. dungen,
1266. OSw. diunga, ODan.
dinge.
disches, see dysche.
display, v. tr., exhibit, reveal: 3 sg.
displayes, 1542; pp. 1107. OF.
despleyer.
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140
Purity
displese, v. tr., displease, 196, 1136;
intr., be displeased, 1494 : 2 s 8*
dyspleses, 1136; pret. 3 sg. 1494;
pp. 196. OF. desplaisir.
dispyse, v. tr., treat with contempt,
abuse: pp. 1790. OF. despis-,
from despire.
disserve, v. tr., deserve: pret. 3 sg.
613. OF. deservir.
disstrye, v. tr., destroy: inf. 907;
dysstrye, 520; PP* Il6 °* 0F *
destruire.
distres, n., sorrow, anguish, 307
(see note) ; in phrase ‘wyth dis-
tres, * by force, with violence,
1160: distresse, 307. 0F * des "
tresse.
distres, v. tr., press hard, put to
sore straits: pret. 3 pi* distresed,
880. OF. destresser.
dittez, see dutte.
divinite, n., learning in divine
things , 1609. OF. devinite.
do, v. tr., put, 1224; done down
of, put down from, 1801; do,
no, 341, 342, 692, 1647; make,
320 ; ruin, destroy, 989 J do
away, put an end to, destroy,
286, 862: inf. 286, 342, 1647;
3 sg. dos, 341 ; pret. 1 pi. diden,
no; imp. pi. dotz, 862; pp. don,
320, 692, 989, 1224; done, 1801.
OE. don.
dobler, n., a large plate, 1146: pi.
dubleres, 1279. AN. dobler,
dubler ; OF. doblier.
doel, n., sorrow, grief, 158, 852,
1329. OF. doel.
dogge, n., dog, 1792. OE. docga.
do3ter, n., daughter: pi. -ez, 814;
de3ter, 270, 866, 939, 977, 993;
de3tters, 899; de3teres, 933-
OE. dohtor.
dosty, adj., brave, valiant, bold,
1182, 1791: superl. do3tyest,
1306. OE. dohtig.
dom, n., decree (of punishment ),
judgment, 214, 219, 246, 597, 7 X 7,
1756; command, 632; influence,
power, 1325; mind, 1046: dome,
219, 597, 632, 1325, 1756: pi. -ez,
717. OE. dom.
dool, n., part, 216 ; intercourse, 699 :
doole, 699. OE. dal.
dor, n.. door, 320, 500, 653; gate,
1182. OE. dor.
dorst, see durre.
dotage, n., folly, madness, 1425.
dote, v. intr., do folly, 286; act
foolishly, 1500; be dazed, aston-
ished, 852 ; 3 sg. -es, 1500 ; 3 pi.
-en, 286; pret. 3 sg. 852. Cf.
MDu. doten.
dotel, n., fool, 1517.
doun, adv., down, 150, 1266, 1292,
1590, 1801; w. ellipsis of verb,
289. OE. adune.
doungoun, n., dungeon, 158, 1224.
OF. donjon.
dou)>e, coll, n., men, 270, 597 ; army,
nobility, 1196, 1367: douthe,
1196; duthe, 1367. OE. duguj>.
dow, v. intr., avail: pret. 3 sg. 374 *
OE. dugan.
dowve, n., dove, *481, 485* douve,
*469 (see note). OE. dufe- (in
cpd.).
dowelle(d), see dwell.
dowrie, n., dower, inheritance, 185.
OF. douaire.
dra3t, n., mark, character: pi. -es,
1557. ? 0 E. *draht.
drawe, v. tr., bring, 1160; intr.,
move, come go, 500, 599 (see
note), 1329, 1394; reft., drawe
adre3, draw back, decline, re-
Digitized by i^ooQle
Glossary
fuse (see note), 71: inf. 500,
draw, 599; 3 s g. 1329; pret.
3 pi. dro3, 71; dro3en, 1394; pp.
drawen, 116a OE. dragan.
drede, n., dread , /*or, 295, 390, 990,
1538, 1543: dred, 342. Cf. OE.
ondraedan, v.
dre3e, see dry3e.
dre3ly, see dry3ly.
dreme, n., dream: pi. -s, 1578, 1604.
POE. ♦dream.
drepe, v. tr., kill, destroy : 3 sg. -z,
246, 599; pret. 3 sg. 1648; pp.
1306. OE. drepan.
dress, v. tr., prepare, 9 2; array,
place, 1399, 1477; ? portion out ,
1518 (see note) : PP- 92, I399»
1518; dresset, 1477. OF.
dresser.
drink, n., drink, drinking, 123 :
drynk, 182; pi. -ez, 1518. OE.
drinc.
drink, v. tr., 1517; intr M 1791: pret.
3 sg. drank, 1517, 1791. OE.
drincan.
dro3, dro3en, see drawe.
dro3j>e, n., drought, 524. OE.
drugaC.
dronkken, part, adj., drunk, 1500.
OE. druncen.
drovy, adj., turbid, 1016. Cf. OE.
drdf„ troubled, turbid .
drown, v., intr. : pret. 3 pi. 372 ;
pp. 989. Prob. OScand. ♦drujna.
druye, see drye, adj.
drwry, n., love, 699: drwrye, 1065,
OF. druerie.
drye, adj., dry, 385, 412, 460; as
noun, dry land, 472; physio-
logical, referring to people,
1096; drye, 460, 1096; druye,
412,472; dry3e, 385. OE. dryge,
141
drye, v. tr., dry: pp. 496. OE.
dryg(e)an.
dry3, adj., heavy, great, 342. OE.
♦dreog; cf. ON. drjugr.
dry 3a, see drye.
dry3e, v. tr., suffer, 372, 400, 1032,
1224; endure, 599; intr., be suf-
fered, 491: inf. 372, 599, 1032;
dry 3, 400; dre3e, 1224; pret.
3 sg. 491. OE. dreogan.
dry3ly, adv., angrily, 74, 344; con-
tinuously, without stopping, 476 :
dre3ly, 476.
Dry3tyn, n., the Lord, 214, 243, 295,
669, 997, 1007, 1065, 1136, 1139,
1146, 1314, 1491, 1652, 1661,
♦1711; dry 3 ttyn, 344; gen.
dry 3 tynez, 219. OE. dryhten.
drynk, see drink.
dryve, v. tr., drive, send, 214, 289,
313, 433, 692; intr., be driven,
move swiftly, rush, 219, 416,
1425, 1760; fly, 472: 3 sg. -z,
433) 692; -s, 1760; pret. 3 sg.
drof, 214, 219, 416, 1425; imper.
sg. dryf, 472; pp. dryven, 289,
313. OE. drlfan.
dubbe, v. tr., dress, array: pp. 115,
1688, 1743. OE. dubbian.
dubleres, see dobler.
duk, n., duke, leader, 38, 1182, etc.;
king, 1745: duk, 1182, 1367,
1745, i77i; due, 1235; pi. -ez,
38, 1518. OF. due.
dungen, see ding,
dunt, n., blow, 1196. OE. dynt.
dure, v. intr M last: 3 pi. -n, 1021;
pret. 3 sg. 1757. OF. durer.
durre, pret. pres., dare: pret. ind.,
3 sg. dorst, 476; 3 sg. durst, 342;
3 pi. dor stan, 976; pret. subj.
1 sg. durst, 615. OE. durran.
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142
Purity
dusch, v. intr., rush: pret. 3 sg.
1538. Echoic,
duthe, see douJ>e.
dutte, v. tr., close up , shut , 588,
1182; intr., 320: 3 sg. dittez,
588; pret. 3 sg. dutte, 1182;
pres. part, dutande, 320. OE.
dyttan.
dwell, v. intr.: inf. dowelle, 1674;
3 sg. -ez, 158; pret. 3 sg.
dowelled, 376, 1196, 1770 . OE.
dwellan.
dych, n., ditch, 1792 : pi. diches,
1251. OE. die.
dy3e, v. intr., die: inf. 1329; dy3en,
400. ON. deyja.
dy3t, v. tr., ordain, 243, 699; place,
1794; dy3t to dej>e, put to death,
1266; clothe, dress, 1688, 1753 J
prepare 632, 818, 1794: inf. dy3t,
818; pret. 3 sg., dy3t, 632, 699;
3 pi. di3ten, 1266; pp. dy3t, 243,
1688, 1753, 1794. OE. dihtan.
dym, adj., dark (of water), 1016:
dymme, 472. OE. dimm.
dyn, n., din, noise, 692, 862 : dyne,
692. OE. dyne.
dyngnete, n., high place , 1801. OF.
dignete.
dyspleses, see displese.
dyspyt, n., defiance, anger, 821.
OF. despit.
dysche, n., dish, 1146: pi. disches,
1279. OE. disc.
dyscover, v. tr., reveal: pret. subj.
1 sg. 683. OF. descovrir.
dysheriete, v. tr., disinherit: inf.
185. OF. desheriter.
dysstrye, see disstrye.
E.
Ebru, adj., Hebrew ( language ),
448. OF. Ebreu.
efte, adv* again, a second time, 481,
482, 647; likewise , 562; after-
wards, 248, 1073, 1141, 1144.
OE. eft.
egge, n., edge ( of blade), 1104;
sword, 1246; brink, 383, 451:
pi. -z, 383, 451. OE. ecg.
eggyng, vbl. n., egging, instigation ,
241. ON. eggja.
elde, n., age, 657. OE. ieldu, eldu.
ellez, conj^, provided that, 4 66, 705.
OE. elles, adv.
* em, n., uncle, 924. OE. earn,
emperor, n., 1323. OF. emperour.
empyre, n., empire, 540, 1349;
imperial power, 1332 : empire,
1332. OF. empire,
enaumayl, v. tr., inlay: pp.
enaumayld, 1411; enaumaylde,
1457. OF. enamailler.
enbaned, part, adj., 1459 (see
note).
enclose, v. tr., shut in: imper. sg.
enclose, 334. OF. enclos-, from
enclore.
enclyne, v. tr., incline: pp. 5 1 ®.
OF. encliner. *
ende, n M end, 303, 1732 ; conclusion
( =what followed ), 608; worlde
withouten ende, 712; dayes of
ende, last days, 1032; on ende,
upright, 423, upon ende, 1329.
OE. ende.
ende, v. intr., die: inf. 402. OE.
endian.
endentur, n., 'jointing by means
of notches ? — NED., 313. OF.
endent(e)ure.
enfaminie, v. intr., famish, starve:
pret. 3 n 94 - Of. OF.
famine, n.
Digitized by
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Glossary
*43
enforse, v. tr., drive: pret. 3 pi.
938. OF. enf order,
engender, v. tr., beget: pret. 3 pi.
272. OF. engendrer.
enherite, v. tr., inherit, receive:
inf. 240. OF. enheriter.
enmie, n., enemy: pi. -s, 1204. OF.
enemi.
enorl, v. tr., surround: pp. 19. Cf.
OF. ourler.
enpoysen, v. tr., poison: pret. 3 sg.
242. OF. empoisonner.
enprysonment, n., imprisonment,
46. OF. emprisonnement.
enter, v. intr. : inf. 329; 3 sg. -es,
1240; pret. 3 pi. entred, 842;
imper. sg. enter, 349. OF.
entrer.
entre, n., entrance, 1779. OF.
entree.
entyse, v. tr., provoke: 2 sg. -s,
1137; 3 sg., 1808. OF. entider.
er, adv., before, 491. OE. aer.
er, conj., before (after neg. often
until), 60, 360, 383, 590, 616, 648,
901, 932, 1203, 1204, 1234, 1262,
1503, 1756 , 1778, 1785; w. ever,
834; w. redundant ‘ne/ 225
(see note), 1205. OE. aer.
er, prep., before, 946, 1088, 1312,
1339, 1670. OE. aer.
erbe, n., herb: pi. -s, 1675, 1684;
-z, 532. OF. erbe.
erde, n., land, region; dwelling;
596, 601, 1006: erd, 892. OE.
eard.
ere, n., ear: pi. -z, 689, 874, 879;
-s, 585, 1670. OE. eare.
erigaut, n., a kind of cloak, 148.
OF. herigaut.
erly, adv.., early, 895, 946, 1001.
OE. aerllce.
erne-hwed, adj., having the color of
an eagle, 1698. OE. earn + hlw.
ernestly, adv., t quickly, 277 ;
fwrathfully, 1240. OE. eornost-
llce.
erj>e, n., ground, 150, 452, 520, 533,
1027, 1160, 1332, 1591, 1693;
(the) earth, world, 273, 277, 2891,
303, 326, 368, 406, 528, 648, 734,
925, 1006, 1323, 1336, 1593;
mould, dust (Lat. pulvis), 747:
er)>e, 277, 289, etc., 18 times;
ut+e, 150, 273, 303, 326, 368,
1593 - 1693. OE. eorCe.
ese, n., ease, at ese, 124. OF. eise.
ete, v. intr., eat: pret. 3 sg. ete, 241,
1684. OE. etan.
e>e, adj., easy, 608. OE. eaSe.
Eve, prop, n., 241. OE., OF. Eve.
evel, adj., evil, 747; as n. 573: pi.
-ez, 277. OE. yfel, Kentish efel.
even, adv., even, just, 317, 510, 602,
1654. OE. efne.
eventyde, n., evening, 479, 485, 782.
OE. aefentid.
ever, adv., always, at all times, 158,
328, 455, 474, 527, 812, 1006, 1068,
1594; ever, at any time, 164, 198,
254 , 255, 285, 290, 291, 432, 558,
6 i 3 > 7 * 7 , H 37 , 1147 ; for empha-
sis after ‘er/ 834; for ever,
402, 1802. OE. aefre.
evermore, adv., ever, for all time ,
1020, 1031, 1273, 1523.
everuch, adj., every, in phrase
‘everuch one/ 1221. OE. aefre
ylc.
ewer, n., pitcher used to carry
water for washing the hands:
pi. -es, 1457. AN. ewer, OF.
aiguiere.
Digitized by ^ooQle
144
P.urity
excuse, v. tr., 70; refl., 62: pret.
3 pi. 62; imper. sg. excuse, 70.
OF. escuser, excuser.
exorsism, n M = exorcist: pi. -us,
1579. Late Lat. exordsmus.
expoune, v. tr., expound , set forth,
explain: inf. expowne, 1729;
3 sg. -z, 1058; pret. 3 sg. ex-
pouned, 1492; expowned, 1606.
OF. espondre, expondre.
expouning, vbl. n., expounding,
1565.
expresse, adv., plainly, 1158. OF.
expres, -se, adj.
F.
face, n., face, countenance, 253, 304,
585, 595, 903, 978. 1055, 1539,
1810. OE. face.
fader, n., father, 112, 684, 1155,
1338, 1429, 1601, 1610, 1624,
1644; of the Lord, 542, 680, 729,
919, 1051, 1175, 1229, 1721, 1726.
OE. faeder.
falce, adj., false; as pi. noun, 1168:
falce, 205, 1167, 1168, 1522;
false, 474; fals, 188, 1341. OF.
fals.
falewe, v. intr., become pale: pret.
3 sg. 1539. OE. feal(u)wian.
falle, v. intr., fall, sink, 221, 271,
399, 450, 559, 1684; perish, 725;
befall, happen, come, 22, 494,
567 ; falle on, 462 ; falle to,
betake oneself to, 837; falle
fro, spring from, 685 ; has fallen
for> (Lat. venit, see note),
304: inf. 22, 567, 685, 725; 3 sg.
-ez, 462, 494; 3 pi. -en, ?27i, 837;
pret. 3 sg. fel, 450; pret. 3 pi.
fellen, 221, 399; pp. fallen, 304,
559, 1684. OE. feallan, fallan.
fals(e), see falce.
famacion, n., report, defamation:
pi. -s, 188: Cf. OF. diffamation.
fame, v. tr., report: pp. reputed,
275. OF. famer.
fande, see fynde.
fanne, v. intr., flap, flutter: 3 sg.
-s, 457. Cf. OE. fann, n.
fantum, n., phantom, illusion: pi.
fantummes, 1341. OF. fantosme.
farande, adj., handsome, 607;
pleasant, joyous, 1758: farand,
1758. ON. farandi.
fare, v. intr., go, pass, 100, 618;
fare forth, 621, 929, 1683; (of
time) pass, 403; fare, 466, 1106:
inf. 618; 3 sg. fares, 1683; 3 pi.
fare, 466; pres. subj. 3 sg. fare,
100; pret. 3 sg. ferde, 1106
(from OE. feran, wk. v.) ; im-
per. sg. fare, 621, 929; pp. faren,
403. OE. faran.
fare, n., behavior, 861. OE. faru.
fast, adv., firmly, 1147; earnestly,
936 ; fast, quickly, 380, 440, etc. :
fast, 440, 618, 897, 936, 942, 944,
1147. 1648, 1751, 1762; faste,
380, O31, 903, 905, 1194, 1420.
OE. faeste.
fat, n., 627. OE. faett.
fatte, v. tr., fatten: pp. 56. OE.
faettian.
fatte, n., vat, tub, 802. OE. faet.
faj?me, v. tr., clasp, embrace: pp.
399. OE. faeCmian.
faure, adj., four, 958, 1015, 1683;
on alle faure, 1683: fawre, 938,
950; fowre, 540; fourre, 1244.
OE. feower.
faurty, see forty.
faute, n., fault, misdeed\ transgres-
sion: faute, 571, 680, 725; faut,
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
M5
236, 1122; pl. fautez, 177, 694;
fautes, 996; fawtes, 1736. OF.
faute.
fautlez, adj., faultless , 794.
fauty, adj., guilty , 741.
fax, n., hair, 790: faxe, 1689. OE.
feax.
fayle, v. intr., fail, 236, 548, 658,
1194, 1631; w. ‘of/ be wanting t
737; w. ‘of/ mbw, fail to ob-
tain, 889; of sun, set, 1758;
of face, blanch, 1539; tr. lack,
1535: pres. subj. 3 sg., fayly,
548; 3 pl. -n. 737J pret. 3 sg.
236, 1194, 1539, 1758; pres. part,
faylande, 1535; pp. 658, 889,
1631. OF. faillir.
fayn, adj., glad, well-pleased, 642,
962, 1752: superl., faynest, 1219.
OE. faeg(e)n.
fayn, adv., gladly, 1629.
fayned, part, adj., false, 188. OF.
feindre.
fayre, adj., fair, 3, 174, 217, 270,
493, 593, 607, 729, 866, 1042, 1106,
1279: fayr, 174, 493, 1014;
superb fayrest, 207, 253, 1043,
1378. OE. faeger.
fayre, adv., fitly, well, 27, 316, 506,
i486; kindly, courteously, 89,
639; justly, 2 94; superb fayrest,
1 15. OE. f aegre.
fayth, n., belief, 1161, 1165: faythe,
1168; in fayth, truly, 1732. Cf.
OF. fei; perhaps NF. feid (=
feiS).
faythful, adj., 1167.
fayth-dede, n., deed of faith: pl.
-s, 1735.
feble, adj., poor, mean, 47, 101 :
febele, 145. OF. feble.
fech, v. tr., fetch: inf. fech, 1429;
pret. 3 sg. 1155; imper. sg. fe<ih,
621 ; pl. -ez, 98, 100. OE.
fecc(e)an.
fedde, part, adj., fed, 56. OE.
fedde.
fee, n., city: pl. -s, 960. AN. fee,
OF. fe, fie.
fe3t, v. intr., fight, 1191; of waves,
404: 3 pl. 1191; pres. part.
fe3tande, 404. OE. feohtan,
fehtan.
fe3t, n., fighting, 275. OE. feoht.
fel, adv., cruelly, 1040. See felle,
adj.
fela3schyp, n., intercourse, 271 ;
colb, company, 1764. LOE.
feolagscipe.
felde, n., field, country, 98, 370,
I 750J field of battle, 1767: pl.
-z, 370. OE. feld.
fele 1 , v. tr., smell, 1019; taste, 107:
inf. 107, 1019. OE. felan.
fele 2 , v. refb, hide: pres. subj. 1 sg.
fele, 914. ON. fela.
fele, adj., many, 177, 1417, 1529,
1579 ; absol. as pron., 88, 162.
OE. feola. feolo.
fele-kyn, adj., of many kinds,
various, 1483.
felle, adj., stern, cruel; dreadful;
139, 156, 283, 421, 954, 1737. OF.
fel.
felly, adv., fiercely, cruelly, 559, 571.
felonye, n., crime, sin, 205. OF.
felonie.
feloun, n., evil-doer, wretch, 217.
AN. felun, OF. felon,
felt, n., matted hair, 1689. OE.
felt.
femmale, n., female: gen. sg., -z,
696. OF. femelle.
fende, n., fiend, devil, 205: pl. -z,
221; -s, 1341; fende, 269. OE.
feond.
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146
Purity
fende, v. intr., w. ‘of/ fend off,
ward off: 3 pi. fende, 1191.
fenden, adj., fiendish, 224.
feng, see fonge.
fenny, adj., dirty, vile, 1113. OE.
fennig.
fer, adv., far, 31, 1680. Comp.,
fyrre, 131, 766, 1732, 1764, 1780;
ferre, 97. OE. feor. See also
ferre, adj., fyr, adj.
ferde, part, adj., frightened, 975:
ferd, 897. OE. faeran, feran.
ferde, n., fear, 386.
ferde, see fare.
fere 1 , n., company, in phrase ‘in
fere/ together, 399, 696. OE.
gefer.
fere 2 , n., companion, 1062. ONth.
ioera, OE. gefer a.
ferk, v. intr., move quickly, walk,
133 ; w. ‘up/ start up, 897 : 3 sg.
-ez, 897; pret. 3 sg. 133. OE.
fercian.
ferly, adj., wonderful, 1460; as
noun, marvel, 1529, 1563, 1629:
♦ferlyche, 1460. OE. faerlic,
ferlic.
ferly, adv., dreadfully, terribly, 269,
960, 975.
ferlyly, adv., wonderfully, 962.
fers, adj., fierce, proud, high-
spirited, ioi„ 217. OF. fers.
ferre, adv., far, 98. OE. feorran.
See also fer.
fery, v. tr., carry: pp. 1790. OE.
ferian.
fest, n., feast, 81, 164, 642, 1364,
1758: feste, 54, 162, 1393. OF.
feste.
festen, v. tr., fasten, 156, 1255 ;
establish, 327 : 1 sg. festen, 327 ;
imper. pi. -ez, 156; pp. festned,
1255. OE. faestnian.
fester, v. tr.: 3 sg. *festres, 1040.
Cf. OF. festrir.
festival, adj., befitting a feast, 136.
OF. festival.
fete, n., fact, in phrase ‘in fete/
in fact, indeed, 1106. OF. fait,
fet.
fetly, adv., fitly, neatly, 585.
fette, v. tr., fetch: inf. 802; 1 sg.
fete, 627. OE. fetian.
fetter, n. : pi. -ez, 156; fettres,
1255. OE. feter.
fettle, v. tr., make (ready), pro-
vide: pret. 3 sg. 585; pp. 343.
?Cf. OE. fetel, belt.
feture, n., features, part of body:
pi. -z a 794. OF. feture.
fetyse, adj., well-proportioned , 174;
as noun, skill, 1103: fetys, 1103.
OF. fetis.
fetysely, adv., skilfully, beauti-
fully, 1462.
fewe, adj., few, 1735. OE. feawe.
flake, n. : pi. -s, 954. Cf. ON. flak,
flaker, v. intr., flutter: pres. part,
flakerande, 1410. Cf. OE. flacor,
flying (of arrows"), and flicorian,
flutter.
flaumbeande, part, adj., glowing,
flashing, 1468. OF. flamber.
flaunk, n^ flake, spark: pi. -es, 954*
Cf. Sw. flanka, flake.
flay, v. tr., terrify: pret. 3 sg. 960,
1723. OE. (Merc.) flegan.
fle, v. intr., flee: inf. 377, 914;
pret. 3 pi. flowen, 945, 975. OE.
fleon.
fleez, n., fleece (used figuratively of
ornamentation), 1476. OE. fleos.
fleme, v., drive (out), banish: inf.
287; 3 sg. -z, 596; flemus, 31.
OE. Aleman, fleman.
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Glossary
M7
flesch, n., flesh, life (translating
Vulg. caro) ; 202, 269, 287, 303,
356, 403, 462, 547, 560, 694, 975,
1040: flesche, 1553. OE. flsesc.
fleschlych, adj., sensual, 265. OE.
flaesclic.
flete, v. intr., float, 387, 432, 1025;
drift, 421; tr. flood, fill, 685:
inf. 685; 3 sg. -z, 1025; pret.
3 sg. flote, 421, 432; flette, 387.
OE. fleotan.
flod, n., flood, 324, 369, 397, 404, 415,
429, 450, 53i; water, 538: pi.
-ez, 324. OE. flod.
fiokke, n., company, host: pi. -z,
837; -s, 1 767* OE. flocc.
fiokke, v. intr., flock: pret. 3 sg.
386/
flor, n., floor, 133. OE. flor.
fior, n., flower: pi. -es, 1476. OF.
flor.
fiose, v. intr., ?he shaggy: pret.
3 sg. 1689. Cf. ON. flosna, to
hang in threads .
fiot, n., grease, scum, ion. OE.
*flot (in flotsmeru), or ON. flot.
flote, n., host, 1212. OF. flote.
flote, v., see flete.
flow, v. intr., flow: pret. 3 sg. 428;
flo3ed„ 397. OE. flowan.
flowen, see fie and fly3e.
flwe, see fly3e.
fly3e, v. intr., fly: pret. 3 sg. flwe,
432; 3 pi. flowen, 1010. OE.
fleogan, flegan.
fly3t, n., flight, 3 77, 457, 530. OE.
flyht.
flyt, n., strife, 421. OE. flit,
flyte, v. intr., strive, chide: pres.
part, flytande, 950. OE. flltan.
fo, n., foe, 1219; pi. foes, 1767.
OE. fa(h), adj.
fode, n., food, 339, 1194; person:
pi. -z, people, 4 66. OE. foda.
fogge, n., grass (of second
growth), 1683. Etym. unknown,
fol, n., fool, 750, 996: pi. -es, 202.
OF. fol.
fol, adv., see ful.
folde, n., earth, land, 257, 287, 477,
540, 950, 1014, 1665; in phrase
‘(up) on folde/ often merely
expletive: 251, 356, 403, 1043,
1147, 1175, 1644. OE. folde.
folde, v. tr., lay: imper. sg. folde,
1026. OE. fealdan, faldan.
foie, n., foal: as gen. pi. foie, 1255.
OE. fola.
foie, v. intr., become mad, foolish:
3 sg. -s, 1422. Cf. OF. folier.
foler, n., foliation , 1410 (see note),
foies, see fowle.
fol3e, v. tr., follow, 677 , 918, 978,
1062, 1165, 1212; w. prepositions,
6, 1752; intr., 429, 974, 1736:
3 sg. -s, 6, 1736 ; -z, 677, 918;
pret. 3 sg. 1752; 3 pl. 974, 978,
1165; imper. sg. fob, 1062;
pres. part, fobande, 1212; fol-
wande, 429. OE. folgian.
folk, n., folk, people, 100, 224, 251,
685, 730, 837, 960, 1014, 1096,
1129, 1529, 1665, 1752: folke,
386, 542, 1161; gen. pl. folken,
271. OE. folc.
folmarde, n., polecat, 534. OE.
♦ful mearS.
folyly, adv., unchastely, 696.
fol wand, see fobe.
foman, n M foe, 1175. OE. fahman.
fon, see fyne.
fonde, v. intr., try: pret. 3 sg. 1103.
OE. fandian.
fonge, v. tr., take, 540; intr., 377,
457: 3 sg. -z, 457; 3 pl. 540;
Digitized by i^ooQle
148
Purity
pret. 3 sg. feng, 377. OE. fangen,
pp. of fon.
font, n., 164. OE. font,
for, prep., 134, 142, 166, 232, etc.;
on account of, because of, 4 7,
177, 178, 179, etc.; for the sake
of, 729, 754, 757; as, 275, 655,
1087, 1163, 1368; to, 75, 143; in
spite of, 867, 1332, 1550 ; against,
1143; from, 740 (see note); in
exchange for, 1118; for to,
with inf., 91, 336, 373, 402, etc.;
for \>y sake, 922; for no3t, 888;
for ever, 402, 1802. OE. for.
for, conj., 5, 28, 31, 35, 55, etc.; be-
cause, 67, 559, 735 ; for J>at, 279.
forbede, v. tr., forbid: pres. 3 sg.
-s, 1147; pp. forboden, 45, 826,
998. OE. forbeodan.
forfare, v. intr., perish, 560, 571;
tr. destroy, 1051, 1168: inf. 1168;
pret. 3 sg. forferde, 560, 571,
1051. OE. forfaran.
forfete, v. tr., forfeit, 177; 743 (see
note}; inf. 177; pres. subj. 3 pi.
forfete, 743. OF. forfait, pp. of
forfaire.
forgar, v. tr., lose, forfeit: pret.
3 pi. forgart, 240. Cf. ON.
fyrirgora.
forge, v. tr., make, construct: pp.
343. OF. forgier.
forgyve, v. tr., forgive: inf. 731.
OE. forgiefan, -gefan.
for3e, n., furrow: pi. -s, 1547. OE.
furh.
for3ete, v. tr., forget, 463, 739, 1528,
1660; abandon, forsake, 203:
inf. 739; 3 sg. -s, 1660; 3 pi. -en,
1528; pret. 3 sg. for3et, 203;
for3ete, 463. OE. forgietan,
-getan.
for just, n., overthrow in jousting:
pp. 1216. Cf. OF. juster.
for know, v. tr., recognize, perceive:
pp. forknowen, 119. Cf. OE.
cnawan.
forlote, v. tr., omit: imper. pi. -z,
101. Cf. ON. lata,
forloyne, v. tr., forsake, 1165;
stray, err, 282, 750; forloyne,
astray, in error, 750, 1155: 3 pi.
forloyne, 1165; pp. 282; for-
loyne, 750, 1155. OF. for-
loignier.
formast, super 1. adj., first (in
time), 494. OE. formest, infl.
by maest, mast.
forme, n., form, shape; way; 3,
174, 253, 1468, 1535: pl. -z, 3 ,‘
-s, 1468. OF. forme,
forme, v. tr., make, fashion; create:
imper. sg. forme, 316; pp. 560,
1341, 1462, 1665. OF. former,
forme-foster, n., first offspring,
257. OE. forma + fostor.
fornes, n., boiler, cauldron, ion.
OF. fornais.
forray, v. tr., pillage: inf. 1200.
Cf. OF. forrer.
forredles, adj., without counsel, in
dismay, 1595'. See redlea.
forsake, v. tr., renounce, 210; absol.
decline, refuse, 75: pret. 3 sg.
forsoke, 210; pp. forsaken, 75.
OE. forsacan.
forselet, n., fortress, 1200. AN.
forcelet.
forset, v. tr., beset: imper. pl. for-
settez, 78. OE. forsettan.
forsoke, adv., truly, 1737. OE.
forsoC.
forst, n., frost, 524. OE. forst.
forth, adv., 77, etc.; in phrase ‘at
forJ> na3tes/ late at night, 1764:
ngitized by Google
Glossary
149
forth, 77, 465, 521, 667, 677, 854,
929, 938, 1683; forthe, 421, 621,
857; forJ>, 304; forJ>e, 1429.
OE. forC.
forty, adj., 224, 369, 403; pron.
faurty, 741, 743. OE. feowertig.
former, v. tr., hasten : inf. 304. OE.
fyrCrian.
♦ f ordering, vbl. n., aiding , for-
warding , 3.
for}>ikke, adv., very thick, 226. See
)>ikke.
f or}>rast, v. tr., shatter, destroy : pp.
forJ>rast, 249. OE. for}>raestan.
forJ>y, conj., therefore, for that
reason, 33, 233, 262, 519, 545,
1020, 1105, 1245: forJ>i, 1175.
OE. forJ>y.
forJ>ynk, v. impers., regret, repent,
285; tr., 557: 3 sg. forJ>ynkez,
285; pret. 3 sg. forJ>o3t, 557.
Cf. OE. forJ>encan and J>yncan.
forward, n., agreement, promise,
1742: forwarde, 327. OE. fore-
weard.
foschip, n., enmity, hatred, 919:
fooschip, 918.
fote, n., foot, 174, 477 of measure-
ment, 1200; (up) on fote, 79, 88,
432, 914: pl. fete, 156, 255, 397,
903, 1255, 1790; fette, 618, 802;
fet, 1062. OE. fot.
found, v. intr., set out, depart: 3 sg.
-ez, 1764; imper. pl. -ez, 903.
OE. fundian.
founder, v. tr., send to the bottom,
cause to be engulfed: pret. 3 sg.
1014. OF. fondrer.
founs, n., bottom, 1026. AN. founz,
OF. fonz.
four(r)e, see faure.
fowle, n, fowl, bird, 474, 530, 538:
pl. foulez, 56; foies, 1410. OE.
fugol.
fowle, adj., foul, 140: fouler 462.
OE. ful.
fowle, adv., shamefully, 1790.
fowle, v. tr.,' defile: pret. 3 pl. 269;
pp. fouled, 1495.
fox, n., 534. OE. fox.
fraunchyse, n, liberality, 750. OF.
franchise.
fray, v. tr., frighten: 3 sg. -es, 1553.
Cf. affray.
frayst, v. tr., examine, test: inf.
1736. ON. freista.
fre, adj., free; as pl. noun, free-
men, 88; noble, fair, 203, 275,
607, 1062 ; as noun, 929 ; as
mere conventional epithet, 861;
righteous, 741 ; contrasted w.
false, 474. OE. freo.
freke, n.,. man, 6, 139, 177, 236,
245, 282, 593, 897, 1219, 1780,
1798; of angels, 621, 919: pl.
-z, 79, 540, 621, 725; -s, 1680.
OE. freca.
frelych, adj., noble, 162; beautiful,
fair, 173: frely, 173. OE.
freolic.
frelych, adv., fairly: comp, fre-
loker, 1106.
frende, n., friend, 139, 642, 1^29;
used loosely, ‘fyn frendez’
(Vulg. justi), 721: pl. -z, 399,
721, 861. OE. freond.
f reach, adj., bright, unsullied, 173.
OE. fersc, perhaps infl. by OF.
freis, fresche.
frete, v. tr., eat, gnaw, 1040; de-
vour, 404: 3 sg. -s, 1040; pp.
freten, 404. OE. fretan.
frette, v. tr., ornament, 1476; fur-
nish, 339: imper. sg. frette, 339;
pp. 1476. OF. freter.
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Purity
150
fro, adv., 685. ON. fra.
fro, prep., front , 31, 129, 221, 282.
etc.; fro ... to, 132, 227,
288; fro J>at, as conj., from the
time that , 1198; fro fyrst J>at,
1069; fro, elliptically, as conj.,
after, 353, 833, 1325* ON. fra.
frok, n., dress, garment, 136: pi.
frokkes, 1742. OF. froc.
froJ?ande, part, adj., frothing (=
vile), 1721. Cf. ON. frotSa, n.,
freytSa, v., froth .
fryst, v. intr., delay : 1 sg., fryst,
743. OE. frystan, or ON. fresta.
fryt, n., fruit, 245, 1043, 1044:
fruyt, 1468. OF. fruit,
fryth, n., wood, wooded country,
534, 1680. ?OE. fritS.
ful, adv., as intensive, full, very, 20,
26, 27, 43, etc.: fol, 1754; foul,
1458. OE. ful.
ful, adj., full, 83, 364, ion, 1599,
1626. OE. ful(l).
fulfylle, v. tr„ carry out, 264;
finish, bring to an end, 1732:
inf. 264; ppu 1732. OE. full-
fyllan.
ful3e, v. tr., baptize : pp. 164. OE.
fulli(g)an.
fulle, n., in phrase ‘to J>e fulle/ to
satiety, 120; completely, 343.
funde, see fynde.
fust, see fyste.
fyftene, adj., fifteen , 405. OE.
flftene.
fyfty, adj., 721; hundreth and
fyfte, 442; absol. 316, 429, 729,
737, 739. OE. flftig.
fygure, n., figure, 1460; ( written )
character, 1726 : pi. -s, 1460.
OF. figure.
fyle\ v. tr., soil: pp. 136. OE.
♦fylan.
fyle 2 , v. tr., cut, form by filing; pp.
1460. Cf. OM. fil, WS. feol,
file.
fylle, v. tr., fill: 3 sg. -z, 462; 3 pi.
-n, 111; imper. pi. -s, 1433; pp.
104, 1008. OE. fyllan.
fylsen, v. tr., support, aid: pret.
3 sg. 1167, 1644. Cf. OE. fyl-
stan.
fylter, v. intr., become tangled,
1689 ; huddle together, 224 ;
join, 696; join in battle, 1191 :
3 pi. fylter, *224, 696, 1191 ; pret.
3 sg. 1689. ?Cf. OF. feltrer.
fytye, n., filth, 6, 31, 202, 251, 265,
355, 547, 559, 574, 680, 730, 845,
923, 1051, 1122, 1721, 1798: pi.
-z, 14. OE. fyltS.
fylyole, n., ? column, turret: pi. -s,
1462. OF. fillole.
fyn, adj., fine, 794, 1742; choice,
1122; good, righteous, 721. OE.
fin.
fynde, v. tr., find, discover, 3, etc.,
absol., 203, 1726; perceive, 133,
593: inf. 3, 887, 1554; 1 sg. 203,
1726, 1737; 2 sg. -z, 472, 587;
3 sg. -z, 459, 477, 593, *1295;
pres. subj. 2 sg. fynde, 902; 3 sg.
fynde, 466; pret. 3 sg. fande,
133; 3 pl. founden, 265; fonde,
1212; pp. founden, 547, 694, 730,
1161; founde, 339, 721, 99*5;
fonden, 356; fonde, 173; funde,
1735. OE. findan.
fyne, y. intr., cease, 369, 450; stop,
929 : pret. 3 sg. fyned, 450 ; fon,
369; imper. sg. fyne, 929. OF.
finer.
fynger, n. : pl. -es, 1103, 1723;
fyngres, 1533, 1553 * OE. finger.
fynne, n., fin, 531. OE. finn.
Digitized byCjOCK^lC
Glossary
fyole, n., cup: pi. -s, 1476. OF.
fiole.
fyr, adj., far , distant, 1680. OE.
feor.
fyr, n., fire, 627, 954, ion; fever,
1095: pi. -es, 1095. OE. fyr.
fyrmament, n., 221. Lat. firma-
mentum.
fyrre, see fer.
fyrst, adj., 222, 493, 494: fyrste,
205 ; as noun in adverbial
phrases : fro fryst, 1069, of
fyrst, 1714, from the beginning .
OE. fyrst.
fyrst, adv., 377, 1530, 1634, 1718.
OE. fyrst.
fysch, n,, fish, 531 : pi. -ez, 288.
OE. fisc.
fyste, n., fist, hand, 1723: fust,
1535. OE. fyst.
fyj>el, n., violin, 1082. OE. *fiSele.
fyj>er, n., feather, 1026 : pi. -ez, 530,
1484. OE. fiber.
fyve, adj., 940; as noun, 737, 739.
OE. fif.
G*
galle, n., gall, 1022. OE. gealla,
galla.
gar, v. tr., make, cause, 896, 1361,
1645 ; drive, 690 : 3 sg. -ez, 690 ;
pret. 3 sg. gart, 1361, 1645 ; 3 pi.
896. ON. gor(v)a; cf. OE.
gearwian.
garnade, in phrase ‘apple garnade,’
pomegranate, 1044. OF. (pome)
garnade.
garnyst, part, adj., ornamented,
1277. OF. garniss-, from garnir.
gate, n., way, 676 , 767, 931. ON.
gata.
gaule, n., vile person, wretch : pi.
-z, 1525. The word is used in the
151
sense of filth, Pearl 1059 and
Pat . 285. Cf. the similar use of
‘filth’ as a term of abuse in Wm.
of Palerne, 2542, ‘}>at foule
felj>e’ = ‘wretch.’ OE. gealla,
galla, sore on a horse, perhaps
same word as gealla, gall (see
galle).
gay, adj., merry, 830; bright, 1315,
1444, 1811. OF. gai.
gaye, adv., brightly, gorgeously ,
1568.
gayn, adj., profitable, good, 259,
749. ON. gegn.
gayn, v. intr., avail: 3 pi. -es, 1608.
ON. gegna.
gaynly, adj., gracious, 72S.
gazafylace, n., ' the box in which
offerings to the Temple were
received / — NED., 1283. OF.
gazophilace<Late Lat. gazo-
phylacium.
geder, v. refl., gather: inf. 1363.
OE. gaderian.
gef, see give.
gemme, n. : pi. -s, 1441, 1468. OF.
gemme.
gender, v. tr., beget: pp. 300. OF.
gendrer.
gendre, n M kind: pi. -z, 434. OF.
gendre.
gent, adj., fair, exquisite, 1495-
OF. gent.
gentry se, n., nobility, 1159. OF.
genterise.
gentyle, adj., noble, 1235, 1257;
fair, 1309; absol. as pi. n., gen-
tyle, nobles, 1216: superl. gen-
tylest, 1180. OF. gentil.
gentyle, adj., heathen, pagan, 76
(see note), 1432: gentyl, 76.
OF. gentil.
gentylman, n. : pi. gentylmen, 864.
Digitized by t^ooQle
Purity
* 5 *
gere, n., apparel, 1811; apparatus
(of vessels of temple), 1505; as
coll., affairs, 16: guere, 1505.
ON. gorvi; OE. gearwe.
gere, v. tr., clothe, attire, 1568;
adorn, 1344; array, set up, 1444:
pp. 1344, 1444, 1568. See gere,
n., and gar.
gest, n., guest, 641 : pi. -es, 830, 862,
872; -ez, 98. OE. gest; infl. by
ON. gestr.
get, v. tr. : imper. sg. 3ete, 842 (see
note) ; pp. geten, 1505 ; ?3at, 66
(see note). OE. -gietan, -getan,
ON. geta.
gette, n., device, fashion: pi. -s,
1354. OF. jet.
gilde, v. tr., gild: pp. gilde, 1344.
OE. gyldan.
give, v. tr., give, 259, etc.; make
known, show, 1326: 3 sg. gives,
1528; pret. 3 sg. gef, 753, 1326;
pp. geven, 259, 1627. ON. gefa;
OE. giefan, gef an.
glad, adj., happy, merry, 123, 641,
830, 1077. OE. glaed.
glade, v. tr., make glad, 1083 : pret.
3 sg. 499. OE. gladian.
glam, n., noise, 849; speech, 830;
message, 499. ON. glamm.
glede, n., kite, 1696. OE. glida.
glem, n., radiance, 218. OE. glaem.
glent, v. intr., shine: pret. 3 sg.
glent, 218. Cf. Sw. dial, glanta.
glette, n., filth, sin, 306, 573. OF.
glette.
glod, see glyde.
glope, v. intr., stare in fright, be
amazed: pret. 3 sg. 849. Cf.
Norw. dial, glopa.
glopnedly, adv., fearfully, in a state
of alarm, 896. Cf. ON. glupna,
and ME. glope, above.
glori, n., 1337. OF. glorie.
glorious, adj., 218. OF. glorious,
glory, v. intr., exult: pret. 3 pi.
1522. OF. glorier.
glotoun, n., glutton: pi. -es, 1505.
AN. glutun, OF. gluton.
glyde, v. intr., go (quietly), walk,
come: 3 sg. -z, 325, 677, 7^7 ;
-s, 1590; pret. 3 sg. glod, 499;
pres. part, glydande, 296. OE.
glidan.
glyffe, v. intr., stare in amazement,
become frightened: pret. 3 sg.
glyfte, 849. Cf. Scotch gliff.
♦gnede, adv., in a niggardly, beg-
garly manner, 146. OE. (Merc.)
♦gnede.
go, v. intr., go, walk; w. forth, 77:
inf. 810; 3 sg. gotz, 325, 341;
gos, 61 1, 1590; pres. subj. 1 pi.
gon, 1811; pret. 3 sg. 3ede, 432,
973; imper, pi. gotz, 77; pres,
part, goande, 931. OE. gan.
goblot, n., goblet: pi. -es, 1277;
gobelotes, 1475. OF. gobelet.
God (god), n., god, 1324, 1663; pi.
goddez, 1608, 1719; goddes,
1165, 1343, 1522, 1525; God (of
Israel ), 16, 231, 259, 296, 301,
411, 508, 591, 611, 641, 677, 728,
739, 749, 753, 765, 947, 1102, 1162,
1326, 1528, 1598; God (the Son),
1072; under God, 1077: Godde,
767; Gode, 1730; gen. Godez,
341, 499, 896; Goddes, 1627, 1662;
Goddez, 1799. OE. god.
god, adj., good, 123, 137, 341, 639,
641, 677, 849: gode, 1619; good,
61 1 ; goud, 1102, 1447; goude,
1525; comp, better, 704, 865, 870;
absol. ]>e better and J>e wers, 80;
}>e lu}>er and J>e better, 163 ;
superl. best, 276; absol., 114, 130,
Glossary
i53
913, 1202, 1242; of }>e best(e),
170, 1179. OE. god.
god, see also goud, n.
godlych, adj., gracious , benevolent,
753 : super 1 . godelest, 1608. OE.
godlic.
golde, 1271, 1276, 1279, 1283,
1344, 1408, 1444, 1456, 1475 , 1476,
1481, 1488, 1569, 1638, 1744: gold,
1404. OE. gold,
golden, adj., 1525.
gome, n., man, 13 7, 145, 1337;
servant , 77: pi. -z, 77, 99; -s,
1315. OE. guma.
Gomorre, prop, n., Gomorrah, 690,
722, 91 1 : Gomorra, 957. OF.
Gomorre, OE. Gomorra.
gorde, v. intr., rush, 91 1 : pret. 3 sg.
gorde, 957. Etym. uncertain,
gore, n., filth, 306. OE. gor.
gorst, n., gorse, heath covered with
gorse: pi. -ez, 99, 535. OE.
gorst.
gost, n., spirit, 325, 1627: goste,
728; pi. gostes, 1598. OE. gast.
gote, n., stream: pi. -z, 413. Cf.
MLG. gote.
goud, n., good thing, benefit, 1048,
1326, 1528; as coll., wealth,
1315; in pi., goods, property,
1200, 1282 : goud, 1048 ; god,
1315; pl. goudes, 1200, 1326,
1528; godes, 1282. OE. god,
neut. See also god, adj.
goun, n., garment, 145 : pl. -es,
1568. OF. goune.
governor, n., ruler: pl. -es, 1645.
OF. governour.
grace, n., favor ( of God), grace,
mercy, 731, 758, 1097, 1522, 1811;
the divine influence in man, 296 ;
favor asked, prayer, 1347. OF.
grace.
gracyously, adv., in a pleasing
manner, 488. Cf. OF. gracious,
adj.
grattest, see grete.
graunt, v. tr., grant, consent, 810;
absol. 765: 1 sg. graunt, 765;
pret. 3 pl. 810. OF. granter.
graunt mercy, an expression of
thanks, 765. OF. grant merci.
grave, v. tr., bury, 1332; ornament
by engraving, 1475 ; engrave,
write, 1324, 1544: pp. graven
(all cases). OE. grafan.
gray, adj., 1696: graye, 430. OE.
grseg.
graybe, v. tr., prepare, equip , 343;
array, 1485 : pp. 343, 1485. ON.
greiba.
graybely, adv., promptly, readily,
341. ON. greiCliga.
grece, n., steps, 1590. OF. grez, pl.
of gre.
gredirne, n., gridiron, 1277. Pop.
etym.<gredire, variant of gredile
(AN. gredil, OF. greil).
greme, n., wrath, 16, 947. ON.
gremi.
gremen, v. tr., anger, vex, 1347;
intr., become angry, 138 : inf.
1347; pret. 3 sg. 138. OE.
gremian.
grene, adj., green, 488, 602, 767; as
noun, (green) grass, 634; any-
thing green, verdure, 1028. OE.
grene.
gresse, n M grass, 1028. OE. graes.
grete, adj., great, 138, 689, 765, 837,
947 , 963, 964, 969, 1037, 1380,
1 767, 1782; grete streete, high-
way (cf. F. grande route), 77;
as pl. noun, 1363: gret. 12, 1283,
1321, 1348, 1534; superl. grat-
test, 1645. OE. great.
Digitized by i^ooQle
Purity
*54
gretyng, vbl. n., weeping , 159. OE.
gretan.
greve, n* thicket , grove: pi. -s, 99.
OE. graefa.
greve, v. tr., vex , anger, 302, 306,
774; harm, punish, 138: inf.
138; pp. 302, 306, 774. OF.
grever.
greving, vbl. n., grieving, 159.
grone, v. intr., groan: inf. 1077.
OE. granian.
gropande, part, adj., searching,
testing, 591. OE. grapian.
gropyng, vbl. n., touch, handling,
1102.
grounde, n., ground, earth, 445, 798,
910, 957, 1214, 1234, 1307, 1330
earth as opposed to heaven, 1324,
1663; foundation, 91 1; fig. (of
God), 591; upon grounde, 1363.
OE. grund.
growe, v. intr., grow, 1028, 1043;
increase, 277: inf. 1028, 1043;
pret. 3 pi. grewen, 277. OE.
growan.
gruche, v. tr., be unwilling to grant,
1347; absol., 810: pres. subj.
3 pi. gruchen, 1347; pret. 3 pi.
gru3t, 810. OF. grucher.
grymly, adv., dreadfully, 1534. OE.
grimllce.
grymme, adj., horrible, 1553, 1696.
OE. grim(m).
grysly, adj., horrible, ghastly, 1534.
OE. grislic.
gryspyng, n., gnashing, 159. Con-
tracted from OE. gristbitung.
guere, see gere.
gye, v. tr., govern, rule: inf. 1663;
3 sg. -s, 1598, 1627. OF. guier. *
gylt, n., guilt, 73 1 : gult, 690. OE.
gylt.
gyn, n., contrivance (= ark, cf. Pat .
285), 49i* Aphetic form of OF.
engin.
H.
Habraham, see, Abraham,
hach, n., hatch, deck, in phrase ‘un-
der hatch/ 409. OE. haec.
hagherlych, adv., fitly, 18: ha3erly,
1707. Cf. ON. hagliga, skilfully.
halde, v. tr., hold, 734; possess ,
maintain, 35, 652, 1349; take,
preserve , 335; adhere to, keep
to (of promise or punishment),
244, 1636; measure, 315; con -
tain, or perh. extend, 1387 ;
consider, 276, 1062, 1078, 1140;
halde utter, keep cut, 42 ; w. of,
maintain allegiance to, be faith-
ful to, 1162: inf. 652, 1162,
1636; 2 sg. -z, 734; -s, 1062;
3 sg. -z, 35; -s, 1140, 1349; pret.
3 sg. helde, 1387; imper. sg.
halde, 335; holde, 315; pp.
halden, 42, 244, 276, 1078. OE.
healdan, haldan.
hale, v. intr., hasten, 380; hale of,
' take a “pull” at’ — NED., take
a drink of, 1520: pret. 3 sg.
1520; 3 pi. aled, 380. OF. haler.
half, n., side, shore, 1039; quarter,
950; half, part, 719; on Godez
halve, in God’s name, 896 : halve,
896; pi. halves, 1039; half, 950.
OE. healf, half.
hal3e, v. tr., consecrate, pret. 3 sg.
506, 1163. OE. halgian.
halke, n., recess: pi. -z, 104, 321.
‘Perhaps a diminutive of OE.
♦halh, healh, corner’ — NED.
halle, n., hall, room, banquet-hall,
90, 129, 1391, 1402, 1439, 1588;
pi. -z, 321. OE. heall.
Google
Glossary
i55
halle-dore, n., 44.
halle-flor, n., 1397.
halsed, see haylse.
halt, adj., lame, 102. OE. healt,
halt.
halyday, n., festival, 134, 141, 166.
OE. haligdaeg.
hamper, v. tr., pack : pret. 3 sg.
hamppred, 1284. Prob. here
from ME. hamper, n.<OF.
hanaper.
hande, see honde.
hande-helme, n., helm moved by
hand, 419. OE. hand + helma.
hapen, v. impers., befall: 3 sg. -ez,
27. Cf. Sw. dial, happa, and see
happe, n.
happe, n., blessing, state of blessed-
ness: pi. -z, 24. ON. happ.
happe, v. tr., cover: imper. sg.
happe, 626. Etym. unknown,
harde, adj., lrtard; difficult, severe;
44 2, 524, 663, 714, 1150, 1342:
hard, 562, 1209; comp., harder,
50. OE. heard.
harde, adv., hard, 159, 424 ; violent-
ly, 44; fiercely, 1204; severely,
harshly, 543, 596. OE. hearde.
hardy, adj., bold, 143. OF. hardi.
hare, n. : pi. -z, 391, 535. OE. hara.
harlot, n., base fellow, beggar, vil-
lain, 34, 39, 148, 1584 ; of Sodom-
ites, 860, 874: gen. sg. -ez, 874;
Pharlatez, 34; pi. -ez, 860; -es,
1584. OF. harlot.
harlottrye, n., obscenity, unchastity,
579-
harme, n., 166. OE. hearm.
harme, v., tr. : inf. 1503. OE.
hearmian.
hasp, v. tr., fasten: pp. 419. OE.
haepsian.
haste, n. : in hast(e), 599, 1503;
upon haste, 902 ; wyth haste, 39 :
hast, 599. OF. haste,
haste, v. tr., urge on: pret. 3 pi.
937. OF. haster.
hasty ly, adv., hastily, quickly, 1150:
hastyfly, 200. Cf. OF. hastif.
hate, n., 915, 1138; outburst of hate
or wrath, 714. Cf. OE. hete, infl.
by ON. hatr, and OE. hatian, v.
hate, v. tr. ; 3 sg. -s, 168, 577 ; pret.
3 sg. 396, 1090. OE. hatian.
hatel, adj., fierce, 227; as noun,
anger, 200. OE. hatol.
hatere, n. : pi. -z, clothes, 33. OE.
pi. haeteru.
hatte, n., hat (of knight’s head-
gear) : pi. -s, 1209. OE. haet.
hat(t)e, see hete.
hatter, see hote, adv.
hafrel, n., man, 27, 35, 409, 594, 895,
1330, 1597, 1762. OE. aej>ele, or
perhaps metathesis of OE. haele)>
(Holthausen).
have, v. tr v have, 67, 74, 123, 164,
etc.; put, 1443; hold, 941, 1704;
w. on, upon, wear, 30, 14 1,
1276; as auxiliary, 66, 69, 75,
95, etc.; forms: inf. 164, 183,
260, 726, 1140; haf, 972, 1320,
1455; 1 sg. haf,, 66, 67, 652, 735,
etc. (9 times) ; have, 193, 351,
749, 1636; 2 sg. hatz, 141, 328,
346, 1595, 1597, 1625; habbez,
95; havez, 171 ; 3 sg. hatz, 30,
306, 517, 586 (19 times) ; habbez,
308, 325; habbes, 995; habes,
555; 1 pi. haf, 95; 3 pi. han,
202, 693, 694, 774, 1631; haf,
709; habbe, 105; habbez, 75;
hatz, 517; pres. subj. 2 sg. haf,
616, 1115; 3 sg. have, 317, 59o;
3 pi. haf, 692; pret. ind. 3 sg.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Purity
156
hade, 74, 461, 610, 640, etc. (34
times) ; had, 248, 424, 679; 3 pi.
hade, 831, 94 i, 1466, 1704, I 779 J
haden, 123, 833, 1162, 1719; had,
702; pret. subj. 2 sg. hade, 1138;
3 sg. hade, 424, 1229, 1232, 1244,
1320; 3 pi. hade, 1484; imper,
sg. haf, 321, 349; pp. hade, 1443;
nade (=ne hade), 404. OE.
habban.
havek, n., hawk: pi. -ez, 537. OE.
hafoc.
haven, n., 420. OE. haefen.
haylse, v. tr., greet: pret. 3 sg. 612;
halsed, 1621; 3 pi. 814. ON.
heilsa (halsed, 1621, perh. infl.
by OE. h&lsian).
hayre, see ayre.
he, pers. pron.: masc. he, 3, 17, 21,
24, etc.; in absol. cst M 1219,
1573; hym (dat. or acc.), 6, 16,
154, 157, etc.; refl., 63, 124, 125,
294, etc.; Pattracted from nom.,
1 1 18, see note: him, 745, 1230,
1297; hem, 889, 915. Fern, ho,
2, 475, 477, 478, etc.; hir (dat.
or acc.), 480*, 482, 624. Neut.
hit, 11, 22, 23, 32, etc.; refl., 927;
redundant, 926 ; anticipative,
1553; with plur. verb., 112, 171,
253, 379, etc. Plural, J>ay, 10, n,
12, 61, etc.; thay, 9 ( th capital) ;
he, 62, 657, *1267; hem (dat.
or acc.), 24, 67, 68, 71, etc.; refl.
62, 170, 267, 1363 : hym, 130, 820,
843; Phom, 1715. OE. he, heo,
hit, etc.
hede(s), see heved.
he3e, see hy3e.
he3t>e, n., height , 317; upon hy3t,
458. OE. heahtSo, hehCu.
helde, v. intr., fall , 1330; proceed,
go, 39, 678; incline, be disposed,
1681: 3 sg. -s, 1330; -z, 678;
pret. subj.( ?) 3 sg. helded, 39;
pp. heldet, 1681. OE. hieldan,
heldan.
helde, see holde.
hele 1 , n., heel: pi. -s, 1789. OE.
hela.
hele*, n., health, 1099 ; welfare,
safety, 920. OE. haelu.
hele, v. tr., heal: pret. 3 sg. 1098.
OE. haelan.
helle, n., hell, 168, 227, 577, 91 1, 968;
personified, 961. OE. hell,
helle-hole, n., the pit of hell, 223.
OE. hell + hoi.
help, n M 1345. OE. help,
helpe, v. tr., help: inf. 762; pret.
3 sg. help, 1163. OE. helpan.
hem, see he.
hemself, hemselven, see self,
hence, adv., 944. Cf. OE. heonon.
hende, adj., gracious p 612, 1172; as
pi. noun, pleasant things, 1083:
hynde, 1098. Cf. OE. gehende.
hendelayk, n., courtesy, 860.
henge, v. tr., hang, 1584; intr.,
1734: inf. heng, 1734. ON.
hengja.
hent, v. tr., seize, take, 3 76, 883,
1150, 1179, 1209; receive, 151;
refl. (w. dat.), take to oneself,
practise, 710: 3 pi. henttez, 710;
pres. subj. 3 sg. hent, 151 ; pret.
3 sg. hent, 376, 1150, 1179; 3 P 1 -
883, 1209. OE. hentan.
hepe, n., heap, 912, 1211; host,
great company, 1775 : pi. -s, 912,
1775. OE. heap.
her, poss. pron., their, 24, 75, 76, 117,
etc.; here, 978; hor, 1524;
J>ayres, absol., 1527. See also he.
her, poss. pron., her, 378, 477, 980,
*981, 1085; hir, 487, 667, 985,
1072, 1 1 19. See also he.
Digitized by Google
Glossary
i57
herafter, adv., 291 : hereafter, 1319.
OE. heraefter.
herbisyde, adv., near here, 926.
here, adv., 619, 622, 842, 875, 927,
943, 1563, 1613, 1629, 1725, 1740;
here away, hither, 647 (see
note). OE. her.
here, n., company, 409, 902. OE.
here.
here, see ayre, n.
here, v. tr., hear, 197, etc., w. ‘of/
193: inf. 1164; pret. 1 sg. herde,
197; 3 sg., 961, 973, 1586; pp.
193, 1597* OE. hieran, heran.
here, v. tr., worship, glorify: pret.
3 pi. hered, 1086; heyred, 1527.
OE. herian.
hereinne, adv., 147, 1595. Ofc.
herinne.
her3e, v. tr., ravage, pillage: 3 sg.
-z, 1294 ; pret. 3 sg. her3ed
(up), 1179; pp. heyred, 1786.
OE. her(g)ian.
heritage, n., 652. OF. heritage,
herken, v. tr., hear, 193; give heed
*0,980; attend, 1369; seek, 458:
inf. herken, 458; herkken, 980,
1369; PP- herkned, 193. OE.
hercnian.
hern, n., eagle: pi. -ez, 537 (see
note). OE. earn,
herself, see self.
hert, n., heart, 27, etc.; purpose,
682 : hert, 27, 31, 172, 204, 283,
563, 575, 592, 594, 682, 850, 897,
1002, 1083, 1240, 1347, 1420, 1425,
1434, 1538, 1625, 1653, 1655, 1681,
1711, 1723; hertte, 620; pi.
herttez, 516. OE. heorte.
hert, v. tr., hurt: pret. 3 sg. hert,
1 195. OF. hurter.
hertte, n., hart: pi. -z, 391 ; -s, 535.
OE. heor(o)t.
hervest, n., harvest, 523. OE. haer-
fest.
best, n., command, 94, 341 ; promise,
1636: heste, 94; pi. -es, 341.
Cf. OE. has.
hete, n., heat, 524, 604. OE. haetu.
hete, v. tr., promise, vow, 24, 665,
714, 1162, 1346, 1636; passive, to
he called, 299, 448, 926, 1322:
1 sg. hy3t, 665; 3 sg. hetes, 1346;
hat, 448; hatte, 926; pret. 3 sg.
hy3t, 24, 299; pp. hy3t, 714, 1162,
1636; hatte, 1322. OE. hatan.
heterly, adv., cruelly, 1222; quickly,
380. Cf. MLG. hetter.
hel>e, n., heath, 535. OE. haeC.
het>yng, n., scorn, contempt, 579,
710. ON. haetSing.
heved, n., head, 876, 1707: hede,
150; pi. hedes, 1265. OE.
heafod.
heven, v. tr., raise, lift; exalt; 506,
920, 1601; extol, 24: pret. 3 sg.
24, 506; pp. 920, 1601, 1714.
OE. hafenian.
heven, n., heaven, 33, *50, 161, 206,
227, 389, 393, 603, 734, 808, 961,
1336, 1340, 1527, 1643, 1664, 1688,
1721, 1807. OE. heofon.
heven-glem, n., gleam of dawn,
946.
Heven-kyng, n., King of heaven,
1628. OE. heofoncyning.
heyned, see here and her3e.
hidde, part, adj., hidden, 1600; as
noun, hidden thing, secret, 1628:
hide, 1600. See hyde, v.
hider, adv., hither, 100, 922. OE.
hider.
hil, n., hill, 902, 927, 946 : hille, 430 ;
hylle, 406 ; pi. hilles, 447 ; hyllez,
380. OE. hyll.
hile, v. tr., cover: pp. 1397. ON.
hylja.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Purity
iS8
hir, see he.
his, poss. pron., 3, 9, 10, 11, etc.:
absol. 1140, 1163: hys, 8, 63,
467; hise, 1216. See also he.
hit, poss. pron., its, 264, 956, 1016,
1021, 1033. See also he.
hitself, see self.
hitte, v. intr., come: 3 sg. -z, 479.
ON. hitta.
ho, see he.
ho-beste, n., female animal: pi.
-z, 337.
hod, n., hood , 34. OE. hod.
hodlez, n., without a hood, 643.
hoi, adj., whole, sound, 102, 594.
OE. hal.
holde, n., possession, dominion
(Dan. 5. 11, in regno tuo), 1597.
OE. heald.
holde, see halde.
hole-foted, adj., web-footed, 538.
holje, adj., hollow, 1695. OE. holh.
hoik, v. tr., dig: pret. 3 sg. holkked
(out), 1222. Cf. MLG. holken.
holly, adv., wholly, entirely, 104,
1140.
holy, adj., 1602, 1625, 1799. OE.
halig.
home, n., 240, 1762. OE. ham.
homme, n., bend of knee: pi. -s,
1541. OE. hom(m).
honde, n., hand: honde, 174, 734,
740, 1106, 1412, 1510, 1544, 1704;
hande, 941; hondez, 663, 883;
hondes, 1445, 1718; handez, 34,
155; handes, 1341. OE. hand,
hond.
hondel, v. tr., handle: 3 pi. hondel,
11. OE. handlian.
hondelyng, vbl. n., handling, touch,
1101.
hondewhyle, n., moment, 1786.
OE. handhwil.
honest, adj., virtuous, pure, 14, 18,
594; seemly, fair, 1 66, 638;
clean (of animals), 505: honeste,
18. OF. honeste.
honestly, adv., chastely, 705; in a
seemly manner, fittingly, 134,
1083.
honor, n., 35. OF. (h)onor.
honor, v. tr. : inf. 1714; 3 sg. -ez,
594; pret. 3 sg. 1340. OF.
(h)onorer.
honyse, v. tr., ruin, destroy: 3 sg.
-z, 596. OF. honiss-, from honir.
hope, n., expectation, 714; belief,
1653. OE. hopa.
hope, v. intr., hope, expect, 860;
tr., think, suppose, 148, 663, 1681 :
2 sg. -z, 148; 3 sg. 663; pret.
3 sg. 860, 1681. OE. hopdan.
hore, n., hair: pi. in phrase ‘camp
hores/ 1695. ON. har.
hors, n., horse, on hors, 79, 1209:
horce, 1684. OE. hors,
hortyng, vbl. n., harming, 740. OF.
hurter.
horwed, part, adj., unclean, 335.
OE. *horgian.
horye, v. tr., hurry: pret. 3 pi. 883.
Etym. obscure.
hote, adj., hot, 626; angry, wrath-
ful, 200, 1602; biting, 1195: hot,
200. OE. hat.
hote, adv., hotly, 707 : comp, hatter,
1138. OE. hate.
hound, n. : pi. -ez, 961. OE. hund.
hous, n., 104, 143, 376, 623, 808, 836,
1786; (of the temple), 1284,
1290, 1714, 1799: hows, 1714;
pi. houses, 1391; howsez, 553,
805. OE. hus.
hous-dore, n., 602.
housholde, n., 18.
Digitized by Google
Glossary
159
hove 1 , v. tr., lift, raise, 206, etc.;
refl., 927: 3 sg. -z, 927; pp.
hoven, 206, 413, 1451 ; hofen,
1711. Cf. ME. hoven, pp. of
heve<OE. hebban.
hove 2 , v. intr., soar, 458; fcome
flying , hover, 485 : 3 sg. -z, *458,
485. Etym. unknown.
how, adv., 140, etc. ; how is it that,
why, 143; how so, howsoever,
1753; how, 143, 209, 270, 464,
466, 496, 682, 738, 1070, 1 1 12,
1753; hou, 140, 915, 1 1 10, 1150,
1154, 1159. OE. hu.
hue, see hwe.
huge, adj., great, 4, 1659; quasi-
adv., 1311. Aphetic from OF.
ahuge.
hundreth, n., hundreth and fyfte,
442: pi. hundred, 315; hundreth,
426. OE. hundred, ON. hun-
dra$.
hunger, n., 1195, 1243. OE. hungor.
hurkle, v. intr., crouch, rest, 406;
cower, bend, 150: 3 sg. hurkelez,
150; pret. 3 sg. 406. Cf. MLG.
hurken.
hurl, v. intr., rush, 376, 413, 874,
1204, 1211; tr., hurl, 44, 223:
3 pi. -es, 1204; pret. 3 sg. 376,
874; pres. part, hurlande, 413,
1211; pp. 44, 223. PImitative;
cf. LG. hurreln.
hurrok, n., ?‘the part of a boat be -
tween the sternmost seat and the
stern' — NED., 419. Etym. un-
certain ; Ekwall {Engl. Stud. 44.
169) suggested OE. )>urruc, by
subtraction of p mistaken for
the article.
hwe, n., form, aspect, 1707; hue,
color: pi. -s, 1119, hues, 1483.
OE. hlw.
hwed, part, adj., colored, 1045.
hyde, n., hide, 630. OE. hyd.
hyde, v. tr., hide: inf. hyde, 682;
huyde, 915. OE. hydan. See
also hidde.
hy3e, adj., high, lofty, 115, 379, 380,
406, 45L 535, 537, 1391, 1664;
exalted, great, 35, 193, 1330, 1332,
1749; (esp. of God), 50, 542,
1162, 1653, 1660, 1711; intense,
604; fast, 976; advanced, 656;
loud, 1564; on hy3e, 413; as
noun, high region, 391 ; superl.
as noun (of God), 1653: hy5e,
50, 193, etc. (14 times) ; hi3e,
1332, 1564; he3e, 1391; hy3, 35,
379; superl. hy3est, 406, 45L
1653; he3est, 1749. OE. heah,
heh.
hy3e, adv., high, 206, 458, 552, 11 66,
1381, 1498; loud, 1206, 1783:
hi3e, 1206, 1381. OE. heah, heh.
hy3e, n., servant: pi. -z, 67. OE.
higa.
hy3e, v. intr., hasten: 3 sg. -z, 538,
610; -s, 1762; pret. 3 sg. 623;
he3ed, 1584; 3 pi. 392; imper.
sg. hy5, 33. OE. hlgian.
hy3ly, adv., *745, 1527: hi3ly, 920.
OE. heahlice, hehlice.
hy3t, n., see he3j>e.
hy3t, v., see hete.
hy 3 tle, v. tr., adorn, ornament: pret.
3 sg. 1290. Etym. unknown; cf.
ME. hy3t.
hylle(z), see hil.
hynde, see hende.
hyne, n., stripling, fellow: pi. hyne,
822. OE. hina, gen. pi. of hiwa.
See also hy3e, n.
hyrn, n., corner: pi. hyrne, 1294.
OE. hyrne.
Digitized by
Google
i6o
Purity
hyve, n., 223. OE. hyf.
hymself, himself, -selven, see self.
I.
I, pers. pron. : 64, 66, 67, 69, etc.;
me (dat. or acc.), 25, 68, 70, 105,
etc.; refl., 553 , 914 , 9 * 5 ; pi- :
we, 95, 622, 670, 843, etc.; uus
(dat. or acc.), 246, 471, 473, 842,
etc. OE. ic.
ibrad, see ibrede.
ibrede, v. tr., overspread , cover :
pret. 3 sg. ibrad, 1693. OE. ge-
braedan.
idolatrye, n., 1173. OF. idolatrye.
if, conj., 12, 13, 36, 49, 99, 165, 291,
472 , 550 , 586, 752 s , 763, 77 i, 841,
928, 1029, 1053, 1063, 1065, 1125,
1129, 1133, 1632, 1 633; even if,
though, 914; granted that, 1665;
whether, 607, 692; what if, 737,
741, 751; but if, unless, 1110,
1360; if bat, 759 : 3if, 584, 613,
615, 736 , 750 , 758 , 775 , 1089, 1122,
1153. OE. gif.
ilk, adj., same, very, 105, 195, 571,
573 , 782, 1755 , 1756 ; pron., 511,
930: ilke, 5 1 1, 569, 628, 675,
1233, 1669. OE. ilea, n.
ille, adj., evil, 272, 864; as noun,
harm, 735; evil, 5 77 : pL -2, 5 77-
ON. illr.
ille, adv., ill, 73, 693, 955 , H 4 *- ON.
ilia.
ilyche, adv., in the same manner,
equally, 228, 1386, 1477; at the
same pace, 975: ilych, 1386;
aliche, 1477. OE. gellce ; cf .
ON. allka.
image, n., 983. OF. image,
in, adv., 679, 1240, 1782. OE. in.
in, prep., in, 3, 4, 6, 17, etc.: into,
98, 559, 689, 725, 1581; among,
730; zvithin (temporal), 1620;
during, 173, 369; at, 781; ex-
pressing manner, 301, 328, 612,
639, 827; by means of, through,
249, 1095, 1667; in respect to,
19, 236, 276; in phrases: in
armes, 1306; in asent, 788; in
blande, 885; in bour, 1126; in
compaynye, 119; in daunger,
416; in fela3schyp, 271 ; in erde,
601; in fere, 399, 696; in fete,
1106; in hast, 599; in honde,
1704; in hit kynde, 1016; in
londe, 122; in lykyng, 239} in
be myddes, 1388 ; in be plow, 68 ;
in sete, 557, 1055 ; in space, 1606 ;
in stoundes, 1603; in talle, in
tuch, 48; in twynne, 966; in
bronge, 504, 754; in brynne,
1727: inne (at end of clause),
169, 290, 1092. OE. in.
inde, see ynde.
inhelde, v. tr., used absol., pour in:
pp. inhelde, 1520. See helde, v.
inmong, prep., among, 1485. Ana-
lytical variant of ME. imong,
from OE. gemang.
inmongez, prep., among, 278.
inmydde, prep., in the midst of,
1 677. Variant of ME. onmidde,
amidde, OE. on midde.
inmyddez, prep., in the midst of,
125. See also myddes.
innoghe, adj., enough, 1303, 1359;
absol., 1671 ; as exclam., 669 :. in-
no3e, 808, 1671 ; inogh, 116. OE.
genoh.
innoghe, adv., enough, 297. OE.
genoh.
inobedyent, adj., 237. OF. in-
obedient, or Late Lat. inobedlent-
em.
-Big feed by A^iOOQle
Glossary
161
inspryng, v. tr., leap into: pret.
3 sg. inspranc, 408. Cf. OE.
springan.
instrument, n. : pi. -es, 1081. OF.
instrument.
insy3t, n., regard , opinion, 1659.
into, prep., 129, 140, 180, 223, 234,
etc.; up to (temporal), 660.
OE. into.
inwith, adv., within, 14.
ire, n., 572. OF. ire.
Israel, n., 1179, 1294: gen. sg. Is-
rael, 1314. Lat. Israel,
iwysse, adv., certainly, 84. OE.
gewiss, adj.
J.
jape, n., (evil) trick, device (of
carnal intercourse) : pi. -z, 272,
864, 877. OF. ♦jape.
Japheth, prop, n., 300. OE. JafeC,
OF. Japhet.
javel, n., low fellow: pi. -es, 1495.
Etym. obscure.
Jerico, prop, n., Jericho, 1216. OF.
Jerico.
jeaunt, n., giant: pi. -ez, 272. OF.
jeaunt, geaunt.
Jerusalem, prop, n., abbreviated
jrlem, 1180, 1235, 1432; jrhlem,
1159; jsrlem, 1441. OF. Jeru-
salem.
jolef, adj., fair, noble, 300; worthy,
true, 864: jolyf, 864. OF. jolif.
jostyse, n., judge, 877. OF. justise.
joy, n., 491, 1309: joye, 128, 1304.
OF. joye.
joyne 1 , v. tr., join, mix, 434 (see
note) ; intr., be joined, be added,
726: inf. 726; pp. 434. OF.
joign-, from joindre.
joyne*, v. tr., enjoin, order: pret.
3 sg. 877, 1235. Aphetic for
ajoyne (OF. en joign-, from en-
joindre).
joynt, n. : pi. -es, 1540. OF. joint,
joyst, part, adj.* lodged, 434 (pos-
sibly glad, see note). ?Cf. ME.
(a) gist, OF. agister.
Ju, n., Jew: pi. -es, 1236, 1612;
Juise, 1159; gen. pi. Juyne, 1170.
OF. Giu.
Juda, prop, n., Judah, 1170. Lat.
Juda(s).
Jude, prop, n., Judea, 1432: Judee,
1180. OF. Judee.
juel, n., jewel: pi. -es, 1441, 1495.
AN. juel, OF. joel.
juelrye, n., jewelry, 1309. OF.
juelerye.
juggement, n.* judgment, 726. OF.
jugement.
juise, n., judgment, doom, 726. OF.
juise.
Juise, see Ju.
jumpred, n., f confusion, grief, 491.
Etym. unknown ; perh. related
to ME. jumpre, jompre, v.,
jumble .
justise, v. tr., govern, rule: pret.
3 pi. 1170. OF. justic(i)er.
Juyne, see Ju.
K.
kable, n., cable, 418. OF. cable,
kaiser, see cayser.
ka3t, see cache.
kake, n., cake: pi. -z, 625, 635. ON.
kaka.
kare, see care.
kark, n., trouble, labor, 4. AN.
kark(e).
karle, n., churl, base fellow, 208:
carle, 876. ON. karl.
kart, n., cart, 1259. ON. kartr ; cf.
OE. craet.
kayren, see cayre.
kayser, see cayser.
kene, adj., wise, 1575; mighty,
great, 1339, 1374, I593J sharp,
Digitized by ^ooQle
162
Purity
839, 1253, 1697: superl. kennest,
1575. OE. cene.
kenely, adv., hastily, 945. OE.
cenlice.
kenne, v. tr. ; make known, teach,
69 7, 865; know, 1702: inf. 865,
pret. 1 sg. kende, 697; 3 sg.
kenned, 1702. OE. cennan, ON.
kenna.
kepe, v. tr., regard, 508 ; take notice
of, mark, 292; hold, 264; obey,
979 > preserve, maintain, 1229;
entertain, 89; intr., behave, 234:
inf. 264, 292; 3 sg. -s, 234; -z,
508; pret. 3 sg. keped, 979, 1229;
pp. keppte, 89. OE. cepan.
kerve, v. tr., carve, 1108, 1382, 1407,
1452; cleave, 1547; tear, 1582;
intr., 1104; inf. 1104, 1108; 3 sg.
-s, 1582; cerves, 1547; pp.
corven, 1382, 1407, 1452. OE.
ceorfan.
kest, v. tr., cast, throw, 234, 414, 634,
1515, 1712, 1744; devise, 1455;
kest up, 460, 951 (of clouds) :
inf. 1455; 3 sg. -ez, 634; pret.
3 pi. -en, 951, 1515; pp. kest,
234, 414, 1712, 1744; kast, 460.
ON. kasta.
kest, n M glance, 768; device, con-
trivance, 1070: cast, 768.
kever, v. tr., cure, 1605; restore,
1700: inf. 1700; pret. 3 sg. 1605.
OF*, cuevre, from couvrer, but
with meaning of recouvrer.
keye, n., key: pi. -s, 1438. OE.
cseg.
klubbe, n., club, 1348: pi. clobbez,
839. ON. klubba.
knave, n„ servant, 801 ; knave,
wicked person, 855 : gen. sg. -z,
801 ; pi. -z, 855. OE. cnafa.
knawe, v. tr., know, 61, 297, 851,
917, 1435, 1575; perceive, 281,
373, 827, 1530; recognise, 231,
1087; make known, 1751: inf.
231, 1435; know, 917; pret. 3 sg.
knew, 281, 851, 1530; pret. 3 pi.
knewe, 1087; knewen, 61, 827;
pp. knawen, 297, 1751 ; knauen,
1575; cnowen, 373. OE. cnawan.
knawlach, n., knowledge, in phrase
‘com to knawlach,’ recovered
his mind, 1702. Cf. OE. *(ge)-
cnawlaecan, v.
kne, n, knee, 40: pi. cnes, 1541.
OE. cneo(w).
knele, v. intr., kneel: 3 sg. -s, 1345,
1591. OE. cneowlian.
knokke, v. tr., knock: 3 sg. -s,
1348. LOE. cnocian.
know, see knawe.
knyf, n., knife, 1104. OE. cnif.
kny3t, n., knight: pi. -es, 1397, 1431,
1519. OE. cniht.
knyt, v. tr., make binding, estab-
lish: pret. 3 sg. knyt, 564. OE.
cnyttan.
koste, see cost(e).
kote, n., cottage, 801. OE. cote,
kow, n., cow, 1685 : kuy, 1259. OE.
cu.
kowpe, see cuppe.
koynt, see quoynt.
krakkes, see crak.
Kryst, prop, n,, Christ, 23, 161, 972,
1067. OE. Crist,
kydde, see kyj>e.
kylle, v. tr., strike, 8 76, 1267; kill,
1252: 1 pi. kylle, 876; 3 pi.
*kyllen, 1267; pp. kylde, 1252.
?OE. *cyllan.
kyndam, n., kingdom, 1700* 1731 :
kyndom, 161. OE. cynedom.
-D ig iti z e d by 3( ie
Glossary
163
kynde, adj., natural , lawful, 697.
OE. (ge)cynde.
kynde, n., kind, species, 334, 336,
505, 507, 1483 ; nature, 263 ;
agayn kynde, unnaturally, 266;
by (of) kynde, by nature, natu-
rally, 865, 1024, 1033, 1128; in
hit kynde, 1016: pi. -z, 336; -s,
1483. OE. (ge)cynd.
kyndly, adv., fittingly, 1 ; exactly,
319: kyndely, 319. Cf. OE. ge-
cyndellce.
kyng, n., 1201, 1215, 1296, 1305, 1339,
1366, 1530, 1564, 1582, 1590, 1593,
1621, 1642, 1685, 1741, 1747, 1789;
(of the Lord) 17, 50, 393, 546,
1087: kynge, 1550; gen. sg. -es,
1221; pi. -es, 1170, 1374; -ez,
1510. OE. cyning.
kynne, v. tr., conceive, 1072; en-
gender, arouse, 915 : pp. 915,
1072. OE. cennan.
kyppe, v. tr*, seise: 3 pi. kyppe,
1510. ON. kippa.
kyryous, see curious,
kyrk, n., church (of the Temple),
1431: kyrke, 1270. ON. kirkja;
cf. OE. cyrice.
kyst, n., chest, coffer, 1438; of the
ark, 346, 449, 464, 478: kyste,
449; pi. -es, 1438. ON. kista.
kyte, n., kite: gen. kyte, 1697. OE.
cyta.
kyth, n., country, region: kyth, 571,
912, 1 no, 1201, 1305, 1316;
kythe, 901; pi. -ez, 414; -es,
1231; gen. pi. -yn, 1366. OE.
cySS.
ky )>e, v. tr., make known, show, 23.
208, 1435; acknowledge, 1368;
practise, 851: inf. 1368, 1435 i
pret. 3 sg. kydde, 23, 208; 3 pi.
kyj>ed, 851. OE. cySan.
L.
lache, v. tr., receive: pres. subj.
2 sg. lache, 166; pp. 1186. OE.
laecc(e)an.
ladde, n., fellow, 36. Etym. uncer-
tain.
laddre, n., ladder: pi. -s, 1777. OE.
hinder.
lady, n., 1059, 1589; my Lady,
Virgin, 1084: pi. ladis, 1352,
1370; ladies, 1375; ladyes, 1434.
OE. hlsefdlge.
lafte, see leve 1 , v.
Ia3e, v. intr., laugh: 3 sg. -s, 661;
pret. 2 sg. Ia3ed, 670; 3 sg. 653,
668 ; 3 pi. lo3en, 495. OE. hlieh-
han, hlaehhan.
lake, n., 1023: llak, 438. OF. lac;
Lat. lacus.
lake-ryfte, n., cavernous den: pi. -s,
536. Lat. lacus (of Vulgate) ;
see rifte.
lakke, v. tr., offend against: pret.
3 pi. 723, Cf. MDu. laken.
lale, v. tr., speak: pret. 3 sg. 153,
913. Cf. Dan. lalle.
lamp, n., 1273: pi. -es, 1485. OF.
lampe.
langage, n., language, 1556. OF.
langage.
lanse, v. intr., spring forth, 966 ; tr.
utter, speak, 668 ; split open, 957,
1428: inf. lance, 1428; 3 pi.
lance, 9 66 ; pret. 3 sg. 957 ; 3 pi.
668. OF. lanc(i)er.
lantez, see lene.
lape, v. intr., drink: inf. 1434. OE.
lapian.
lappe, v. tr., enwrap, clothe: pp. 175.
Cf. OE. laeppa, skirt of a gar-
ment.
large, adj., 438, 1386, 1549, *773;
great, 1658; as noun, breadth,
314. OF. large.
Digitized by ^ooQle
164
Purity
lasche, v. intr., blaze , burn: pret.
3 sg. 707. Prob. onomatopoetic.
lasne, v. intr., subside , fall: pret.
3 sg. 438, 441. Cf. OE. laes, less .
lasse, see lyttel.
last, n., sin , vice: pi. -es, 1141. ON.
lgstr, gen. lastar.
laste, adj., 608; as noun, at J>e
last(e), at last , finally , 446, 888,
1096, 1193; bi ]>e laste, at last,
1 327: last, 608, 888. OE. latost,
superl. of laet.
laste, v. intr., last, endure: inf. last,
894; 3 sg. -z, 568; lasttes, 1124;
pres. subj. 3 sg. laste, 1594; pret.
3 sg. laste, 227, 1298. OE.
laestan.
lat, adj^ remiss, unmindful, 1172.
OE. laet.
late, adv., *804 : comp, in phrase,
‘never )>e later/ nevertheless,
1352. OE. late.
laj>e, v. tr., invite, urge: 1 pi. laj>e,
900; pret. 3 sg. 809, 936; imper.
pi. -z, 81; ppu 163. OE. laCian.
lauce, v. tr., solve, do away with,
1589; intr., loosen, 957: inf.
1589; pret. 3 sg. laused, 957. Cf.
ON. lauss, loose; leysa, loosen.
♦launce, branch: pi. -s, 1485 (see
note). OF. lance.
launde, n., open space in woods,
pasture; (up) on launde, 1000,
1207. OF. launde.
lavande, part, adj., pouring, flow-
ing, 366. OE. lafian.
lawe 1 , n., law, 1167, 1174, 1307: law,
263 ; laue, 723 ; pi. -z, 188. LOE.
lagu.
lawe 2 , n., hill, 992. OE. hlaw.
lay, v. tr., lay low, put down, 1307,
1650; place, 1025; set, assign,
425 ; impose, 263 : inf. 425, 1650 ;
imper. sg. lay, 1025; pp. layd,
263, I307- OE. lecgan.
lay(e), see ly3e.
layk, n., amusement, 122 ; device
(in evil sense), 274; behavior,
1053, 1064 : pi. -ez, 122, 274. ON.
leikr.
layke, v. intr., play: imper. pi. -z,
872. ON. leika.
layte, v. tr., seek, 1768; intr., 97:
imper. pi. -z, 97; pp. 1768. ON.
leita.
lazar, n., diseased beggar: pi. -es,
1093. Late Lat. lazar us.
leaute, n., fidelity, 1172. OF. leaute.
lebard, n., leopard: pi. -ez, 536.
OF. leopard, lebard.
lecherye, n., 1350. OF. lecherie.
led, n., lead, 1025. OE. lead,
lede, n., coll, people, nation, 691,
740, 772; man, person, 34 7, 609,
1093, 1419, 1768; servant, 614;
pi. men, people, 97, etc.: led,
691; leede, 772; pi. -z, 97, 116,
256, 308, 412, 495, 836, 909, 990,
993; -s, 1051, 1193, 1293, 1596,
1773- OE. leod, f., and leod, m.
leder, n., leader: pi. -es, 1307. Cf.
OE. laedan, v.
ledisch, adv., of the people, national,
1556: ludych, 73; ludisch, 1375.
lef, adj., dear, precious, 772, 939;
absol, as noun, 1066: leef, 1066;
leve, 1622. OE. leof.
lefly, adj., dear, lovely, 977. OE.
leoflic.
lege, adj., pertaining to feudal al-
legiance, requiring allegiance,
94; owing allegiance, 1174; as
noun, sovereign, lord, 1368. OF.
li(e)ge.
legioun, n„, armed host, 1773: pi.
-es, 1293. AN. legiun, OF.
legion.
■Digitized by G( ogle
Glossary
le3en, see ly3e.
lei, adj., fair, 1069; true, 425. OF.
leel.
lelly, adv., loyally, faithfully, 1066.
leme, v. tr., shine, gleam: pret. 3 sg.
1273, i486. Cf. OE. leoma, n.
lemman, n., mistress , 1352 : pi.
lemanes, 1370. OE. leofman.
lende, v. intr., remain, tarry : pp.
lent (= tarrying, abiding ), 1084.
OE. lendan.
lene 1 , v. tr„ give, grant: pret. 2 sg.
lantez, 348: pp. lent, 256. OE.
lsenan.
lene 2 , v. refl., lean: pret. 3 sg. 784.
OE. hleonian.
lenge, v. intr., remain, abide, dwell:
inf. 81, 800, 803, 807, 1023; 3 sg.
-z, 772, 779; pret. 3 sg. 497, 960,
994; 3 pi. 412, 891, 1419; imper.
sg. lenge, 614. OE. lengan.
lenger, -est, see longe.
len}>e, n., (of space) 314, 315, 1383,
1594; on len)>e, along the length
(of the table), 116; (of time)
224, 239, 425, 568 : lenc]?e, 224.
OE. lengCu.
lepe, v. intr., run, rush, 990; leap,
spring, 1209; crack, ' fly / 9 66:
3 sg. -s, 966; 3 pi. -s, 1209; pp.
lopen, 990. OE. hleapan.
lepre, adj., leprous, 1094. OF.
lepre.
ler, n. : pi. -s, features, 1542. OE.
hleor.
lere, v. tr., teach: inf. 843. OE.
laeran.
lerne, v. tr., learn: pp. 693. OE.
leomian.
lese, adj., false, 1719. OE. leas,
lese, v. tr., destroy, 932; fail, 887:
pret. 3 pi. lest, 8 87; pp. lorne,
932. OE. leosan.
1^5
lest, conj.: 151, 166^ 943. OE. (>y)
laes J>e.
let, v. tr., let, permit, 732, 1434; in
phrase ‘let one/ let alone, 670,
872 ; think, regard, in phrase
‘let ly3t/ 1174, 1320: inf. 732;
pres. subj. 1 pi. let, 670; pret.
3 sg. lette, 1174; imper. sg. let,
1434; pi. -ez, 872; pp. let, 1320.
OE. laetan, letan.
lette, v. tr., hinder, deprive: pp.
1803. OE. lettan.
letter, n., letter (of alphabet), 1536,
etc.; inscription, writing, 1580;
pi. learning, 1561 : pi. lettres,
1536, 1549, 1565, 1596, 1634. OF.
lettre.
lej>e, v. intr., soften, be merciful (w.
dat.), 752; cease, 648: inf. 752;
pres. subj. 3 sg. le>e, 648. Etym.
uncertain.
le)>er, n., leather, 1581. OE. leCer.
leve, adj., see lef.
leve 1 , n., leaf, 488, etc.; (of book),
966 : pi. -z, 488, 605, 609, 9 66 ; -s,
1464, 1485. OE. leaf, n.
leve 2 , n., leave, permission, in
phrase ‘wyth yor (J>y) leve/ 94,
347, 715; take leve, depart, 401.
OE. leaf, f.
leve 1 , v. tr., leave (behind), 378,
1004, 1678; (as inheritance),
1337; give up, abandon, 1233:
inf. 1233; 3 sg. -s, 1678; 3 pi.
-z, 378; pret. 3 sg. lafte, 1337;
pp. lafte, 1004. OE. laefan.
leve 2 , v. tr., believe, 608, 1493 ; intr.
752; have faith, 1703: inf. 608,
752; pret. 3 sg. 1703; imper. sg.
leve, 1493. OE. llefan, lefan.
lewed, adj., ignorant, 1580, 1596.
OE. laewede.
leyen, see ly3e.
Digitized by L.oo< I
Purity
1 66
Hk, v. tr., lick , iooo ; drink, sip,
1521: inf. 1000; 3 pi. likked,
1521. 0E. liccian.
likkes, see lyke.
limpe, impers. v M befall, happen:
pp. lumpen, 424, 1320. OE.
limpan.
llak, see lake.
lo, inter j., 94, 541. OE. la.
lodezmon, n., guide, 424. Cf. OE.
ladmann.
lodly, adv., in a loathsome manner,
1093; with abhorrence or loath-
ing, 1090. OE. laClIce.
lodlych, adj., hateful, vile, 274:
lo)>elych, 1350. OE. laClic.
lof, see luf, n.
lofly, see luflych.
lofte, n., in phrase ‘(up) on lofte/
aloft, on high, above; on top
(1025): 206, 318, 692, 808, 947,
1004, 1210, 1273, 1342, 1407, 1444,
1649, 1777, 1803; loft, 1025.
LOE.. loft, ON. lopt. See aloft.
loge, n., small house, dwelling, 800 ;
arbor (of decoration), 1407: pi.
logges, 1407. OF. loge.
loge-dor, n., 784.
logge, v. intr., pass the night: inf.
807. OF. log(i)er.
logging, n., dwelling, 88 7.
I03, n., sea, (the) deep, 441: lo3e,
1031; loghe, 366. ?ONth. luh.
I03, adj., low, 1761. ON. lagr.
lo3e, adv., low, 798.
k>3e, v. tr., abase, humble: pp.
1650.
lo3en, see la3e.
lo3ly, adv., humbly, 614, 745.
loke, v. intr., look, see, 269, 495, 691,
769, 817, 903, 1069, 1581 ; w. ‘on,’
28, 1370, 1580, 1804 ; w. ‘to/
263, 401, 1059; take care, see to
it, 317, 905, 944: inf. 28, 263, 691,
1370, 1804; 3 sg. -z, 401, 817;
pret. 3 sg. 269, 769; 3 pi. 495,
1580; imper. sg. loke, 317, 1059,
1069; pi. -s, 903; loke, 905, 944;
pp. 1581. OE. locian.
lome, n., vessel (of ark), 314, 412,
443, 495- Cf. OE. geloma.
lome, adj., lame, 1094. OE. lama,
lomerande, part, adj., stumbling,
hobbling, 1094. Prob. based on
ME. lome.
londe, n., land, country, 308, 909,
932, 1797; world, 568; in formal
phrase ‘in londe/ 122: pi. -s,
1293, 1768. OE. land, lond.
longe, adj., (of space), 1386, 1462.
1777; (of time), 256, 807;
absol. as noun, upon longe, at
length, 1193: long, 807; super 1.
lengest, 256. OE. lang, long,
longe, adv., for a long time, 809,
1768; fol. by ‘er/ 932: long,
1521 ; comp, in phrase ‘no
lenger/ 810, 982. OE. lange,
longe.
longe, v. intr., pertain, belong:
pret. 3 sg. 1090; 3 pi. 1747. Cf.
OE. gelang, adj.
longing, vbl. n., anxiety, solicitude,
1003 : longyng, 779. OE.
langung.
lopen, see lepe.
lorde, n., lord, ruler, noble, 73, 94,
97, 122, 153, 1418, 1589, 1797;
husband, 656; (the) Lord, 28,
212, 345, 347, 4io, 424, 435, 489,
497, 612, 675, 714, 717, 752, 761,
769, 828, 913, 925, 986, 1004, 1053,
1066, 1172, 1228, 1356, 1448, 1454.
1493, 1642, 1703, 1804, 1807 : lord,
138; gen. sg. lordes, 1797; pi.
-s, 1367, 1375, 1521, -z, 1571. OE.
hlaford.
-Bigitized by
Goo, le
Glossary
167
lordeschyp, n., 1658. OE. hlaford-
scipe.
lore, n., learning, 1556. OE. lar.
lorne, see lese.
los, n., uncertainty, quandary, 1589.
OE. los.
lose, v. tr., destroy, 909; lose, 586,
1141, 1797: 3 sg. -s, 1141; 1 pi.
-n, 909 ; pp. losed, 586 ; lost,
1797. OE. losian.
losyng, vbl. n., perdition, 1031. OE.
losing.
lot, n., sound, speech, 668. ON. lat.
Loth, prop, n., Lot, 772, 798, 809,
817, 841, 853, 900, 913, 925, 936,
939, 977, 993, 1003: Loot, 784;
gen. sg. Lothez, 836 ; Lothes,
981 ; Lotez, 887. Lat. Loth.
loJ>e, v. tr., hate: pres. 3 pi. lo)>e,
16. OE. laCian.
loJ>elych, see lodlych.
loud, adj., 390: loude, 1207. OE.
hlud.
loude, adv., 153, 950. OE. hlude.
louflych, see luflych.
loute, v. intr., how: 3 sg. -z, 798.
OE. lutan.
love, n„ palm: pi. -z, 987. ON. lofi.
love 1 , v. tr. : inf. lovy, 1066; 1 sg.
luf, 1434; 2 sg. lovyez, 841 ; 3 sg.
Iovyes, 1053, 1060, 1809; lovies,
1052 ; 3 pi. lovez, 823 ; pret. ind.
3 sg. loved, 275 ; 3 pi. 723 ; pret.
subj. 3 sg. lovied, 21 ; pp. loved,
1059. OE. lufian.
love 2 , v. tr., praise, glorify: inf.
1289; pret. 3 sg. 275, 497, *1703;
3 pi. 987; pres. part, lovande,
1719; pp. 925. OE. lofian.
love, see luf, n.
lovyng, vbl. n., praising, 1448.
lowke, v. intr., only in pres. part,
lowkande, closing, forming a
mass, 441. OE. lucan.
ludych, ludisch, see ledisch.
luf, n., love, 843; beloved person,
40 1 2 ; coll, mistresses, 1419: lof,
843; love, 1419. OE. lufu.
luf-lowe, flame of love, 707. Cf.
ON. logi.
luflych, adj., lovely, fair, 939, i486;
dear, 1804; courteous, 809: luf-
lych, 809 ; luflyche, 939 ; louflych,
i486; lofly, 1804. OE. luflic.
luflyly, adv., courteously, 163.
lug, v., move heavily, be dragged:
pret. 3 sg. 443. ON. lugga.
lult, v. tr., sound: pp. 1207. Perh.
imitative; cf. Norw. lilla.
luly-whit, adj., lily-white, 977. OE.
lilie + hwit.
lump, n., 1025. Cf. Norw. and Sw.
dial. lump,
lumpen, see limpe.
lust, n., 1350. OE. lust,
lusty, adj., fair (as formal epithet),
981.
lu}>er, adj., wicked, 163; absol. as
noun, evil, 1090. OE. lyCre.
lyf, n., life, 256, etc. ; on lyve, alive,
293, 356, 1321 : lyf, 256, 308, 325,
333, 425, 841, 900, 1023, 1594.
1658, 1719; gen. sg. lyvez, 648;
lyve, 173, 293, 356, 1321. OE.
Ilf.
lyflode, n., means of living, 561.
OE. liflad.
lyft, adj., left, 1581 : lyfte, 981. OE.
lyft.
lyftande, part, adj., heaving, 443.
lyfte, v. tr., raise, 1649, 1777; set
up, decree, 717 ; f excite, (or
perh. surpass, in phrase ‘lyftez
mervayle/ is more than strange ),
586: inf. 717; lyft, 1649; 3 sg.
-z, 586, pret. 3 pi. lyfte, 1777-
ON. lypta.
lyfte, part, adj., raised, 1407.
Digitized by L^ooQle
i68
Purity
lyfte, n., sky, heavens, 366, 435, 1356,
1448, 1493, 1761 : lyft, 212. OE.
lyft.
Iy3e, v. intr., lie : 3 sg. lygges, 1126,
1792; 3 pi. lyggez, 99; pret. 3 sg.
lay, 460; laye, 609; ly3e, 172;
3 pl. Ie3en, 936; pp. leyen, 1003.
OE. licgan.
Iy3t, adj., pure, 987. OE. leoht,
leht.
Iy3t, adj., light, 1026; absol. in
phrase ‘let ly3t of/ disregard,
treat with disrespect, 1174 1320.
OE. leoht, leht, llht.
Iy3t, n., light, 1272, i486; spark in
phrase ‘lyves ly3t/ 648 : pl. Iy3t,
i486. OE. leoht, leht.
Iy3t, v. intr., alight, 4 76; descend,
691; (of the Incarnation), 1069;
stop, turn aside (Vulg. decli-
nate), 800; fall ( upon ), 213,
235: inf. 476, 691, 800; pret.
3 sg. Iy3t, 213, 235, 1069. OE.
llhtan.
Iy3tly, adv., quickly, 817, 853. OE.
leohtlic.
lyke, adj., like, 212, 790: lyk, 1436;
superl. lykkest, 261. Adv. like,
as if, 1008. Cf. OE. gelic.
lyke, v. intr., and impers., like,
please: inf. 36, 1064; 3 sg. -z,
539, 693; -s, 1646, 1663, 1726;
3 pl. likkes, 1141; pres. subj.
3 sg. lyke, 717; pret. 3 sg. 73,
41 1, 435, 1649, 1650, 1700; pret.
subj. 3 sg. 771. OE. llcian.
lyken, v. intr., be like, resemble:
3 sg. lyknes, 1064.
lykor, n., liquor: pl. -es, 1521. OF.
licor.
lykyng, vbl. n., pleasure, 239, 1803;
wish, inclination, 172 : pl. -es,
1803. OE. llcung.
lym, n., limb : pl. -ez, 175. OE. lim.
lyoun, n., lion: pl. -ez, 536. AN.
liun, OF. lion.
lyre, n., flesh, 1687. OE. lira,
lysoun, n., f glimpse, trace, 887.
?OF. luision.
lyst 1 , n., boundary, region, 1761.
OE. llste.
lyst 2 , n., pleasure, 693, 843. OE.
lust.
lyste, v. impers., be pleasing; me
lyst, I please, like: 3 sg. lyst,
872, 1000; pret. 3 sg. lyste, 415;
lyst, 1766; liste, 1356. OE.
lystan.
lysten, n^ sense of hearing, 586.
Cf. ONth. lysna, listen.
lyte, adj., few, 119. OE. lyt.
lyttel, adj., little, 233, 736, 965, 990;
as noun, a lyttel, 451, 617; at
lyttel, 1710; of time, a little
while, 614: little, 1232; comp,
lasse, in ‘never J>e lasse/ 215 ; as
n. in ‘no lasse/ 1640. OE. lyteL
lyttel, adv., little, 465, 935. OE.
lytel.
ly)?erly, adv., meanly, wretchedly,
36. Cf. luj>er.
lyve, v. intr., live; 239, etc.; Fquasi-
tr., practise, 172: inf. 239, 1031;
lyvy, 558; 2 sg. lyvyes, 1114;
pres. subj. 2 sg. lyVie, 581 ; pret.
3 pl. 261; ?pp. 172. OE. lifian.
lyve, n., see lyf.
M.
ma, see make.
mach, n., mate, 695; companion,
124. OE. gemaecca.
machche, v. intr., be joined (= at-
tend, i. e. for service) : pres.
3 sg. -s, 1512.
mad, see make.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
madde, adj., foolish , 654. Cf. OE.
gemsed.
ma3ty, adj., mighty , 273, 279. OE.
mihtig, maehtig (Angl.). See
also mysty.
ma3tyly, adv., fiercely, 1267.
make, n., equal, peer, 248; wife,
703, 994: pl -z, 33i, 334. Cf.
OE. gemaca.
make, v. tr., 52, etc.; make god
chere, 641; moon, 373; joye,
1304; prisoner, 1308: inf. 373,
628, 1202, 1238, 1286, 1365, ?I566,
1668; 3 sg. -s, 1304, 1795; pres,
subj. 2 pl. make, 819; matz, 695;
pret. 1 sg. made, 285, 291, 664,
701, 1 662; 3 sg. 52, 124, 198, 212,
542, 1662 ; mad, 641 ; 3 pl. ♦mad,
1391 ; imper. sg. ma. 625 ; make,
309, 314, 1067; pp. maked, 254,
1071, 1308, 1799; made, 1720;
mad, 91, 247. OE. macian.
male, n., 695, 703; pl. -z, 337. OF.
ma(s)le.
malscrande, part, adj., bewildering,
991. OE. ♦malscrian.
malte, v. intr., melt, soften, 776;
filter in, 15 66: inf. malt, 1566.
OE. meltan.
malyce, n., wickedness, 518; anger,
250: malys, 250. OF. malice.
Mambre, prop, n., Mamre, 674, 778.
OE. Mambre.
man, n., man, person, 51, 124, 341,
etc.; servant , 1512; indef., one,
180, 183, 189; in general sense,
referring to whole species, 285,
332, 514, 518, etc.: man, 51, 180,
189, 341, etc. (12 times) ; mon,
124, 183, 285, 436, etc. (n
times) ; gen. sg. mannez, 514,
515, 575; manez, 520; monnez,
332; monnes, 1673; pl. men,
169
1 19, 137, 644, 652, etc. OE.
mann, monn.
mancioun, n., dwelling (of Ark),
309. AN. mansiun, OF. man-
sion.
Mane, n., Mene, 1727, 1730. Vulg.
Mane.
maner, n., mode, 701. AN. manere,
OF. maniere.
manerly, adj., properly, becoming -
b, 91.
mangerye, n., banquet, feast, 52:
mangerie, 1365. OF. mangerie.
mankynde, n M 278: monkynde, 564.
manne, v. tr., (of sexual inter-
course) : inf. 869. OE. mannian.
mansed, part, adj., cursed, 774. Cf.
OE. amansod.
Mararach, prop, n., Ararat, 447
(see note). OF. Ararach.
margerye-perle, n., pearl, 556. OF.
margerie -f- perle.
marie, v. tr., give in marriage,
marry: inf. 52: as adj. maryed,
815. OF. marier.
marre, v. tr., corrupt, 279; destroy,
991: 3 pl. marre, 279; pp. 991.
OE. merran.
marryng, vbl. n., ruining, spoiling,
186.
marschal, n., 118, 1427: marchal,
91. OF. mareschal.
maryage, n. : pl. -z, 186. OF.
mariage.
mase, n., f confusion, 395. FOE.
♦mase.
maskle, n., spot, 556. OF. mascle.
masse, n., mass (= gospel), 51
(see note). OE. maesse.
mast, n M 417. OE. maest.
mater, n., matter, subject, substance,
1566, 1617, 1635. AN. matere,
OF. matiere.
Digitized by L^ooQle
Purity
170
Ma>ew, prop, n., Matthew , 25, 51.
OF. Mathiu.
mawgre, n., displeasure , 250. OF.
maugre.
may, pret. pres., can, may (pret.
often has pres, force) : 1 sg. may,
70, 291, 750, 1567; 2 sg. 176, 655,
1115; 3 sg. 32, 104, 177, 183, 189,
339, 551, 599, 663, 776, 1023, 1027,
1043, 1052, 1 1 19, 1131; 1 pi. 843,
1112, 1812; 2 pi. 1319; P r et.
1 sg. mo3t, 914 ; my3t, 682 ; 2 sg.
mo3tez, 655; 3 sg. mo3t, 22, 62,
704, 890, 894, 1320, 1668; my3t,
3, 225, 260, 377, 567, 921, 1046,
1392, 1517, 1550; 3 Pi. mo3t, 372,
705, 708, 1083, 1108, 1205, 1720;
my3t, 530, 835, 1199 , 1252, 1785.
OE. maeg-(meahte) mihte.
mayden, n., of the Virgin, 248,
1069: pi. -ez, 815, 867, 934; -es,
1267, 1299. OE. maegden.
maynful, adj., mighty, 1730. Cf.
OE. maegen, n.
maynly, adv., loudly, 1427.
mayntnaunce, n., maintaining, sup-
port, 186. OF. maintenaunce.
mayny, see meyny.
mayster, n., lord, ruler, 125, 1237,
1427, 1512, 1793; of God, 748,
771, 1 1 13: pi. -z, 252; -es, 1740.
OF. maistre.
maysterful, adj., despotic, 1328.
maysterry, n., force, 1241. OF.
maistrie.
mede, n., reward, 12, 1632: pi. -z,
24. OE. med.
Mede, prop, n., Mede, pi. -s, 1740,
1771, 1793. OE. pi. Medas.
medo, n., meadow: pi. -es, 1761.
OE. maed, gen. maedwe.
megre, adj., lean, thin, 1198. OF.
megre.
meke, adj., gentle, 815; merciful,
771 ; as noun, = meek servant,
776. ON. miukr.
mekely, adv., 783.
meken, v. tr., humble, soften: pret.
3 sg. mekned, 1328.
mele, n., meal, 226, 625. OE. melo.
mele, v. intr., and tr., speak, tell:
inf. 748; pres. 1 sg. mele, 736;
3 sg. -z, 51 ; pret. 3 sg. 859. OE.
maelan.
menddyng, vbl. n., 764. Cf. OF.
amender.
mene, adj., inferior, small, 1241.
Cf. OE. gemaene.
mene, v. tr., mean, signify, 1567,
1730, 1 733; tell, explain, 1635:
* 3 sg. -s, 1567, 1730, 1733; imper.
sg. mene, 1635. OE. maenan.
meng, v. tr., mix, 625; join, 337:
imper. sg. meng, 337 ; menge,
625. OE. mengan.
men-scla3t, n., manslaughter, 182.
Cf. OE. monnslieht, -slaeht
(Angl.).
menske, n., honor, dignity, 121,
522, 1740 : mensk, 646. ON.
mennska.
menske, v. tr., honor: 3 sg. -z, 141 ;
pp. 1 18.
mercy, n., 395: mersy, 776. OF.
merci.
mercyable, adj., merciful, 1113.
OF. merciable.
mercyles, adj., 250.
mere, n., sea, 991. OE. mere,
mere, n., boundary, 778. OE. (ge)-
msere.
merit, n., reward, 613. OF. merite.
merk, adj., obscure, 1617. OE.
mirce.
merk, n., darkness, 894. OE. mirce.
“Digitized by Google
Glossary
merk, v. tr., set , place, 558, 637,
1487; write, 1617, 1 727: 3 sg.
merkkez, 637; pret. 3 sg. 558;
pp. 1617, 1727; merkked, 1487.
OE. mearcian.
merbe, see myrf>e.
mervayl, n., marvel, wonder, 22,
1164: mervayle, 586. OF. mer-
veille.
mery, see myry.
meschef, n., misfortune, trouble,
708, 1164; evil plight, 373: pi.
-ez, 708; -es, 1164. OF. meschef.
mese, v. tr., moderate: inf. 764.
Cf. OF. amesir.
message, n., messenger, 454. OF.
message.
messe, n., portion: pi. -z, 637. OF.
mes.
mester, n., need, 67. AN. mester,
OF. mestier.
mesurable, adj., temperate, mild,
859. OF. mesurable.
mesure, n., moderation, 215, 247,
565. OF. mesure.
metalle, n. : pi. -s, 1513. OF. metal,
mete, adj., proper, fitting, 33 7, 637;
equal, 1662. Cf. OE. gemaete.
mete, food, 12 1, 466, 644, 646,
818, 1198, 1354, 1683; feast, din-
ner, 1 18, 125: pi. -s, 1354. OE.
mete.
mete, v. tr., meet, 86, 797; intr.,
1394; mete wyth, 371: inf. 797,
pret. 3 sg. mette, 371 ; 3 pi. met-
ten, 86, 1394. OE. metan.
mett, n., measure: pi. -ez, 625. OE.
(ge)met.
metz, n., fpity, 215. Cf. mese, v.,
and see note.
me)>e, n., moderation, mildness,
mercy, 247, 565 ; meth, 436. OE.
maej>.
171
mebelez, adj., extraordinary, 273.
OE. maejdeas.
meve, v. intr., move, 363; proceed,
walk , 783: 3 sg. -z, 303; pres,
part, mevande, 783. OF. muev-,
from movoir.
meyny, n., household, company, 331,
454; multitude, 514 : mayny, 514.
OF. meyne.
misschapen, part, adj., monstrous,
wicked, 1355. Cf. OE. scapen,
pp. of scieppan.
mistraube, n., unfaithfulness, 996.
Cf. OE. treowC.
Mizael, prop, n., Mishael, 1301
(Dan. 1. 6). Lat., OE. Misael.
mo, see much.
mode, n., mood, 713; anger, 215,
565, 764; thought, idea, 1635:
mod, 713. OE. mod.
moder, n., mother: gen. sg. in
phrase ‘moder chylde,’ 1303.
OE. modor.
modey, adj., brave, proud, 1303.
OE. modig.
molde, n., earth, in phrase ‘(up) on
()?is) molde,’ on earth, in the
world, 279, 286, 514, 522, 558, 613,
708, 1 1 14, 1656; in pi. = lands,
454: mold, 708; pi. moldez, 454.
OE. molde.
mon, see man.
monswome, part, n., perjury, 182.
Cf. OE. manswerian, v.
mony, adj., many, w. sg. noun and
indef. article, 659, 1286, 1298,
1303, 1352 , 1372, 1440, 1488, 1773 ;
without article, 43, 1299, 1439,
1602; pi. 96, 193, 321, 367, etc.:
absol. as pron., 521, 572, 1194,
1479, 1692, 1784 : moni, 1298,
1299, 1303; monye, 521, 1093;
monie, 1194. OE. manig, monig.
Digitized by L^ooQle
172
Purity
monyfolde, adv., many times, great-
ly, 278. OE. manigfeald, -fald,
adj.
monyth, n, month, 427, 493, 1030.
OE. mdnaC.
moon, n., moan, 373. OE. ♦man.
mor, n., moor, 1673; earth , 385.
OE. mor.
morken, v. intr., grow dark : 3 sg.
-es, 1760. Cf. merk.
morkne, v. intr., rot : inf. 407.
ON. morkna.
mome, n^ morning, 493; next day,
morrow, 1001, 1793: morn, 493.
OE. morgen.
morne, v. intr., mourn: pres. part.
♦mornande, 778. OE. murnan.
momyng, n., morning, 804. See
mome.
morsel, n., 620. OF. morsel,
morter, n., candlestick with a wide
bowl to catch grease: pi. -es,
1487. AN. morter, OF. mortier.
mot, pret. pres., may, 580; pr eU
must, generally w. present mean-
ing: 3 sg. mot, 580; 2 sg. most,
1673; pret. 3 sg. most, 407, 1031 ;
moste, 1331. OE. mot-moste.
mote, n., spot, blemish, 556. OE.
mot.
mount, n., 994: mounte, 447. OE.
munt.
mountayn, n. : pi. -ez, 385. AN.
muntayne, OF. montagne.
mowJ?e, n., mouth, 1669. OE. muC.
much, adj., 22, 182, 190, 250, etc.;
als much as, 1730; comp, more
(of quantity), 96, 296, 1725;
absol. 736; mo, more (of num-
bers), 96, 674; absol. 940, 1303;
superl. most, largest, 254 : moste,
385. OE. mycel. See also
mukel.
much, adv., 189, 285, 774, 1072,
1494; comp, more, 76, 168, 1107,
1137, 1 154, 1453; no more, 385,
513 , 759 , 762, 894, 1135 ; never
more, 48, 191. OE. mycel.
mudde, n., 407. Cf. MLG. mudde.
mukel, adj., large, great, 52, 366,
514, 1164. OE. mycel. See also
much.
mul, n., dust, 736. OE. myl.
multyplye, v. intr. : pret. 3 pi. 278 ;
imper. pi. -z, 522. OF. multiplier,
munster, n., church, temple, 1267.
OE. mynster.
my, poss. pron., 55, 56, 57, 60, etc.:
myn, 682, 688, 689, 698, 1667;
absol. 1668. OE. min.
myddes, n., midst, in phrase ‘in }>e
myddes/ 1388. See also in-
myddez.
mydny3t, n., midnight, 894. OE.
midniht.
my3t, n* might, power, 1656, 1662,
1668 : pi. -es, 644, 1699 ; -ez, 748.
OE. miht.
mysty, adj., mighty, 1237. OE.
mihtig. See also ma3ty.
myke, n., “crutch” or forked sup-
port on which a mast rests when
lowered, 417. ?MDu. micke.
mylde, n., merciful, 728. OE.
milde.
myle, n.: pi. -z, 674; myle, 1387.
OE. mil.
mylke, n., milk, 637. OE. meolc,
mile.
mylke, v. tr^ milk: inf. 1259. OE.
milcian.
mynde, n., mind, heart, 518, 852,
1328, 1421, 15 66; thought, 1355;
purpose, 1502. Cf. OE. gemynd.
mynne, v. impers., think, 25; tr.
and intr. w. ‘on/ remember, 436
igitized by Google
Glossary
173
(see note), 771: inf. 436, 771;
3 sg. mynez, 25. ON. minna.
mynstrasy, n., minstrelsy, 121. OF.
menestralsie.
mynt, v. tr., purpose: 3 sg. -es,
1628. OE. myntan.
mynystre, v. tr., serve: pret. 3 sg.
644. OF. ministrer.
myre, n., mire, 1114. ON. myrr.
myr)>e, n., mirth, joy, pleasure, 132,
189: mer)>e, 703, 1519. OE.
myr(i)g8.
myry, adj., pleasing, 701; merry
pleasant (sometimes as mere epi-
thet), 130, 254, 33i, 417, 783, 934,
1760; of the weather, fine, 804,
1760: myri, 934; mery, 1760;
superl. myriest, 254, 701. Quasi-
ad v. myry, merrily, 1516. OE.
myr(i)ge.
myryly, adv., happily, cheerfully,
493.
myself, myselven. see self,
mysse, v. tr., fail to obtain, miss,
189; (intr.) w. ‘of/ 551; lack,
1198; in passive, to be absent,
missing, 994: inf. 189, 551; pp.
myst, 994, 1198. OE. missan.
mysseleve, n., misbelief, 1230. Cf.
OE. leafa.
myst, n., 1760. OE. mist.
N.
Nabugo, prop, n., shortened form
of Nabugodenozar, 1226, 1233.
Nabugodenozar, prop, n., Nebu-
chadnezzar (written Nabugo de
Nozar), 1304, 1312, 1331, 1338,
1430, 1603, 1651, 1671 : Nabigode-
nozar, 1176, 1218. OF. Nabu-
godenozar.
Nabuzardan, prop, n., Nebuzaradan,
1236, 1261, 1281, 1291, 1613;
Nabizardan, 1245. Lat. Nabu-
zardan.
nade, see have.
na3t, see nyst.
naker, n v kettle-drum: gen. pi. -yn,
1413. OF. nacre.
name, n., 410, 1236, 1324, 1610 :
nome, 297. OE. nama.
nas, see be.
nature, n.: 1087; natwre, 709. OF.
nature.
nauber, conj., neither ; correl. with
ne, 1104, 1336; reinforcing ne,
1028, 1226, 1556: nawber, 1028.
OE. nahwaetSer, nautSer.
nay, adv., 729, 743, 758. ON. nei.
nay, v. tr., deny, 805 ; intr., refuse,
65 ; 3 sg. nay, 805 ; pret. 3 sg. 65.
OF. neier.
nayte, v. tr., use: inf. 531. ON.
neyta.
naytly, adv., properly, 480. Cf. ON.
neytr, good, fit for use .
ne, adv., not, 152, 178, *55°, etc.;
)>at . . . ne, without, 983;
redundant after er, 225 (see
note), 1205, and usually in com-
k binations: nel, 513; nyl, 1261;
nolde, 805, etc.; nas, 727, etc.;
nere, 21 ; nif, 21. Conj. nor, 34
48, 108, 136, etc. OE. ne.
nede, n., need, 1163. OF. nied, ned.
nede, adv., of adversity, 407. OE.
nlede, nede.
nedes, adv., of necessity, 1331. OE.
nledes, nedes.
nedlez, adj., useless, 381.
nese, adv., nigh, nearly, 484, 704,
1422; as prep., near, 803: ne3e,
803, 1422; ny3e, 484, 704. OE.
neah, neh.
Digitized by ^ooQle
174
Purity
n«3e, v. tr., come to, approach: inf.
ne3e, 143, 1017 ; ne3, 805 ; ?ne3en,
32 (see note) ; pret. 3 sg. 1754.
nekke, n., neck, 1638. OE. hnecca.
nel, see wyl.
nem, see nym.
ner, adv., nearly, 1558, 1585; as
prep., near, 414: nere, 414. ON.
naer; OE. near, ner, comp, of
neah.
nere, see be.
neve, n., ( clenched ) hand, 15 37-
ON. hnefi.
neven, v. tr., name: inf. 1376; 3 pb
-en, 1525; pret. 3 sg. 410. ON.
nefna.
never, adv., never, at no time, 29,
45, 48, 107, etc.; emphatic neg.,
by no means, not at all, 587, 615,
668, 1103, 1555; never . . . er,
359, 381, 1312; never more, 191 ;
never J>e + compar., 215, 1352 ;
never so, 1330- OE. n£fre.
newe, adj., 526: nwe, 1354. OE.
neowe, newe.
next, adv., w. ‘after/ immediately
after, 261. OE. neahst, nehst,
super 1. of neah.
nice, adj., wanton, lascivious, 1354,
1359; fastidious, dainty, 824:
nyse, 824. OF. nice.
nif, conj., ne + 3if, if not, unless,
21 : nyf, 424.
niye, see nye.
no, adj., 136, 141, 142, 197, etc.; no
mon, 514, 1656; with compara-
tives : better, lasse, lenger,
mo (re), 234, 385, 513, etc. OE.
nan. See also non.
noble, adj., 121, 167, 1218, 1281,
1302, 1338, 1372, 1430; as pi.
noun, 1226. OF. noble.
nobleye, n., nobility, 1091. OF.
nobleye.
no-bot, adv., only, 1127.
Noe, prop, n., Noah, 297, 301, 345,
*359> 4io, 480, 481, 484, 505, 513,
gen. Noe, 425. Lat. Noe, OE.
Noe.
no3t, pron., nothing, 106, 209, 374,
992, 1023, 1245; for no3t, in
vain, 888. OE. nowiht.
no3ty, adj., wicked, bad, 1359.
nold, see wyl.
nome, see name.
nome(n), see nym. ,
non, adj. pron., 21, 426, 735, 795, 868,
1056; absol. 72, 101, 578, 1088,
1399; pl. none, 262; non oJ>er,
342, 508, 742, 1681, 1704: none,
101, 426. OE. nan.
nome, see nume.
norture, n., nurture, upbringing,
1091. OF. norture.
not, adv. : 22, 32, 33, 70, etc. ; no3t,
84. See nost.
note 1 , n M work, occupation, 1233;
practice, custom, 727 ; trouble,
pains, 381 ; position, power,
1651. OE. notu.
note*, n., note ( of music) : pl. -s,
1413. OF. note.
noted, part, adj., famed, renowned,
1651.
notyng, vbl. n., using, 1354. OE.
notian.
noumbre, n., number, 737, 1 376;
count, 1731 ; quantity, 1283.
AN. numbre, OF. nombre.
now, adv., now, at this time, forth-
with, 64, 944, 1008, 1015, etc.;
now at J>is tyme, 106; ry3t now,
1754; w. imperative, or intro-
ducing clause, temporal meaning
being weakened or effaced: 75,
Digitized by C - e
Glossary
i7S
125, 301, 345 , * 359 , 513 , 521, 545 ,
669, 709, 746, 761, 921, 1225; as
conj., seeing that, mi; suppose
that , if, 721 : now, 64, 75, 125,
301, etc. (33 times) ; nou, 921,
1008, 1015, mi, 1305, 1505. OE.
nu.
noye, see nuye.
noyse, n., clamor, din, 849, 873; of
music, 1413, 1415. OF. noise.
nummen, see nym.
nume, v. tr., say, declare, 65, 669;
entreat, urge, 803: 1 sg. norne,
803; pret. 3 sg. 65, 669. Etym.
obscure. The word is peculiar
to the Gawain-poet.
nuye, v. tr., trouble, vex, 306, 578,
1603; harass, 1176, 1236: inf.
noye, 1236; 3 sg. nuyez, 578;
pret. 3 sg. 1176; pp. nwyed, 306;
nyed, 1603. Cf. OF. anuier,
anoier.
nye, n., trouble, 1 376; anxiety,
1002; woe, trouble, vexation,
anger, 301 : nye, 1376, niye, 1002 ;
nwy, 301; pi. nyes, 1754. Cf.
OF. anuy.
nyf, see nif.
nys®, see nese.
ny3t, n., night, 359, etc.; at for}>
na3tes, late at night, 1764: ny3t,
*359, 526, 779, 803, 888, 1203,
1754 , * 1779 ; na3t, 484, 578, 807,
1002; na3tes, 1764. OE. niht,
neaht (Angl. naeht).
nyl, see wyL >
nym, v. r., take; 480, etc.; have,
feel, *1002 (see note) : 3 sg.
nymmes, 480; nymmez, 481;
pret. 3 sg. nem, 505 ; nome, 1613 ;
pp. nomen, *1002, 1281 ; ♦num-
men, 1291. OE. niman.
nyse, see nice.
nytel, v. intr., ? struggle: pret. 3 sg.
888. Etym. obscure.
O.
Oo, interj., 861.
obeche, v. refl., do obeisance to:
pret. 3 sg. 745. OF. obeiss-,
from obeir.
odde, adj., odd, 426; abs. 505. ON.
odda-.
oddely, adv., singly, solely, 923 ;
singularly, 698.
of, prep., of, 7, 74, hi, 149, etc.;
from, 596, 855, 892, 901, etc.;
with ‘out,’ 287, 289, 1316, 1441,
1575; by (agent), 243; with, by
means of, 1253, 1277, 1404, 1408,
1433; denoting material, 1271,
1276, 1279, etc. ; with ‘out/ 1342,
1408; because of, 848, 1019, 1706,
1728; in respect to, 27, 92, 253,
314, etc.; concerning, 26, 51, 425,
843, etc.; in partitive sense, 42,
88, 170, 207, etc.; out of, among,
923; in various idiomatic com-
binations: because of, 1519; in
contrary of, 1532; on payne of,
46; of armes, 1773; of kynde,
1033. OE. of.
of, adv., off, 630, 876, 1191, 1265.
OE. of.
ofte, adv., often, 410, 423, 952, 1274,
1328, 1584, 1597, 1601. OE. oft.
05c, pret. pres. v. : pret. 3 sg. a3t,
ought, 122. OE. agan.
03t, pron., anything, 663, 1092. OE.
awiht.
oke, n., oaky 602. OE. ac.
olde, adj., 601, 1123, 1263: superl.
aldest, 1333. OE. eald, aid.
olipraunce, n., vanity, ostentation,
1349. Etym. obscure.
Digitized by L^ooQle
176
Purity
olyve, n., 487. OF. olive,
on, adv., 30, 477, 1661. OE. on.
on, prep., on, upon, in, 78, 198, 213,
228, etc.; expressing time, 445,
479, 481, 485, etc.; manner, 1775,
1782, esp. on . . . wyse, 271,
327, 696, 1063, 1171, 1187; of
(with verbs of thinking), 25,
436, 771, 819; in, in phrase 'on
Ebru/ 448; in phrases: on alle
faure, 1683; on benche, 1499;
on dece, 38; on ende, 423; on
erd, 892 ; on f olde, 403 ; on f ote,
79, on Godez, halve, 896 ; on
honde, 1412; on hors, 79; on
hy3e, 413; on launde, 1000; on
lenj>e, 116; on molde, 279; on
mor, 385 ; on na3t, 578 ; on
payne of, 46; on ry3t, 1513; on
ur)>e, 273; on J>e waye, 606; on
wyde, about, 1423. OE. on.
on, num. and pron., o single, 108,
112, 152, 551, 803, 1244, 1555;
one and the same, 716, 718;
alone, 670, 731, 872, 927; absol.,
25, 63, 178, 299, 997, 999, 1555;
w. superl., 892; ani on, 42; uch
on, 71, 267, 394, 497, 825, 890,
1024, mi; everuch one, 1221,
}>yn one, 923 (see note) : one,
25, 178, 670, 73i, 825, 872, 927,
1024, mi,, 1221. OE. an.
onelylh, adv., only, 1749. Cf. OE.
anlic, adj., aenllce, adv.
onez, adv., once, 23, etc.; at onez,
at one time, together, 402, 519,
566, 672, 732, 909, 963, 1086; at
J>is onez, for this one time, 624,
801 : onez, 23, 402, 566, 600, 601,
624, 672, 732, 761, 801, 909, 963,
1146; ones, 519, 982, 1086, 1144,
1357, 1672.
onhede, n., unity, concord, 612.
on + hede.
onsware, n., answer, 753. OE.
ondswaru.
on-y3ed, adj., one-eyed, 102.
open, v. tr. : inf. 1600. OE. openian.
ordaynt, part, adj., ordained, 237.
AN. ordeiner, OF. ordener.
ordenaunce, n., 698. OF. orde-
nance.
ordure, n., filth, 1092, 1101. OF.
ordure.
orenge, n., orange, 1044. OF.
orenge.
organe, n., a wind instrument: pi.
-s, 1081. OF. organe.
omement, n., ornament, furnish-
ing: pi. -es, 1799; urnmentes,
1284. OF. o(u)rnement.
orppedly, adv., quickly, 623. OE.
orpedlice.
oste, n., host, 1204. OF. oste.
oj>er, adj., 84, 149, 175, 235, etc.;
absol. as pron. sg., 267, 268, 299,
765, 999, 1227; pi. oj>er, 25, 279,
332, 340, 596, 74i, 937, 1389, 1511 ;
non oj>er, 342, 508, 742, 1704;
nothing else, 1681; ayj>er oj>er,
338, 705; redundant after su-
perlatives, 256, 701, 1749. OE.
otSer.
o)>er, conj., or, 42, 417, 418, 419, etc.;
whe>er . . . oj>er, 113. OE.
otSer.
oJ>erwayez, adv., otherwise, 448.
oure, poss. pron., 28, 345, 410, 424,
etc. : our, 986. OE. ure.
oure, n., hour, 1779. OF. (h)oure,
hore.
out, adv., 98, 353, 364, 475 , 505, 842,
941, 990, 1046, 1203, 1222, 1462,
1790, 1802; protruding, 41; be
out, pass, 442; w. of, 287, 289,
Digitized byVjOOQlC
Glossary
177
923, 1316, 1342, 1408, 1441, 1460,
1516, 1575, 1654, 1783; out of
age, advanced in age , 656: oute,
41, 1046. OE. ut.
outberst, v. intr., burst out: pret.
3 pi. outborst, 1251.
outcomlyng, n., stranger, 876. Cf.
OE. pp. utancuraen.
outlast, v. tr., cast out: pp. out-
kast, 1679.
outtaken, pp., as prep., except, 357,
1573 .
ouj>er, pron., either, 795. OE.
awCer<ahwaeCer.
over, prep., over, across, 133, 406,
472, 482, 981, 1293, 1776; above,
1314. OE. ofer.
overbrawden, part, adj., covered
over, 1698. OE. oferbraedan.
overgo, v. intr., pass: pret. 3 sg.
over3ede, 1753. OE. ofergan.
overseye, v. intr., pass by: pp. 1686.
overtake, v. tr. : pret. 3 pi. overtok,
1213.
overtome, v. intr., go round, pass
by: pret. 3 pi. 1192.
overj?wert, adj., placed crosswise,
1384. Cf. ON. ]>vert, neut. of
J>verr.
overJ>wert, adv., crosswise, 316.
overwalte, v. tr., overflow: 3 sg.
-z, 370.
over3ede, see overgo,
owne, see aune.
ox, n., 1086: oxe, 1^82; pi. -en, 66.
OE. oxa.
P.
pakke, v. tr., pack: pret. 3 sg. 1282.
MLG. pakken.
Palastyn, prop, n., Palestine, 1177.
Lat. Palaestina.
palays, n., palace , 83, in, 1531,
1781 :, palayce, 1389. OF. palais.
palle 1 , n., fine cloth, 1637. OE.
paell.
palle 2 , n., paling , fence of stakes,
1384. OF. pal.
papejaye, n., parrot: pi. -s, 1465.
AN. papejaye, OF. papegai.
paper, n., 1408. AN. papir, OF.
papier.
paradys, n., paradise, garden of
Eden, 238, 1007; heaven , 195;
supreme bliss, 704 : paradis,
1007. OF. paradis.
parage, n., lineage, 167. OF.
parage.
paramorez, n., love, 700. OF. par
amour (s).
parchmen, n., parchment, 1134.
OF. parchemin.
pare, v. tr., cut, 1408; mark, 1536:
pret. 3 sg. 1536; pp. 1408. OF.
parer.
parforme, v. tr., bring to pass:
pret. 3 sg. 542. OF. par former,
parget, n., plaster spread on a wall,
1536. Cf. OF. pargeter, v.
parlatyk, adj., paralytic, 1095. OF.
paralytique.
part, v. tr., divide, no 7; descend,
242 : pret. 3 pi. 242. OF. partir.
partryke, n., partridge: pi. -z, 57.
OF. perdriz, pertriz.
passe, v. intr., go, pass, 72, etc.;
surpass, 1389; passe out of, come
from, 1654: inf. 942; pres. 3 pi.
-n, 844, 1780; pret. 3 sg. passed,
72, 769, 856; past, 1654; imper.
sg. passe, 615; pres. part, pas-
sande, 1389; pp. passed, 395,
past, 1672. OF. passer,
pau, n., claw: pi. ?paune, 1697.
OF. powe, poue.
Digitized by ^ooQle
i 7 8
Purity
paume, n., palm , hand , 1533 : pi. -s,
1542. OF. paume.
payne, n., penalty, 46, 244, 716;
pain, suffering (inflicted as pun-
ishment), 190: pi. -s, 1227.
OF. peine.
payre, n., pair, 335, 338 s . OF. paire.
payre, v. intr., deteriorate, 3 sg. -s,
1124. Aphetic form of ME.
apayre (OF. empeirier).
pece, n., piece: pi. -s, 1348. OF.
pece, piece.
pen, n. : pi. -ez, 322. OE. penn.
penaunce, n., 1116, 1131. OF.
penance.
peni, n., penny: pi. -es, money,
1 1 18. OF. pening, penig.
penitot, n., peridot, chrysolite: pi.
-es, 1472. OF. peritot.
penne, n., pen, 1546, 1724. OF.
penne.
penne-fed, part, adj., fed in a pen,
57 .
pent, v. intr., belong, pertain: pret.
3 sg. 1270. Cf. OF. apendre.
peple, n., people, in, 396, 651, 885:
pi. peplez, 242. OF. poeple.
per, n., peer, equal, 1336 ; rival,
1214: pere, 1336. OF. per.
peraunter, adv., perchance, 43.
OF. par aventure.
Perce, prop, n., Persia, 1772. OF.
Perce.
peril, n. : *856; perile, 942. OF.
peril.
perle, n., pearl, 1068, 1116, 1117,
1124: pi. -s, 1132, 1467, 1472.
OF. perle.
perre, coll, n., jewelry, precious
stones, in 7. OF. perrerie,
perrie.
Perse, prop, n., Persian: pi. Perses,
1739 - OF. Perse.
pertly, adv., openly, plainly, 244.
Cf. OF. apert.
Phares, n., Upharsin, 1727, 1736,
1737- Vulg. Phares.
pich, n., pitch, 1008. OE. pic.
pik, v. intr., pick, peck: pp. 14 66.
OE. pican.
pinacle, n. : pi. -s, 1463. OF.
pinacle.
pipe, n.: pi. pipes, 1413; pypes,
1081. OE. pipe,
pit, n., 1008. OE. pytt.
place, n., *72, 146, 238, 785, 1282,
1317, 1443; palace, residence,
1385 • pi. -s, 1013. OF. place,
planed, part, adj., 310. OF. planer,
plant, v. tr. : pret. 3 sg. plantted,
1007. OE. plantian.
plaster, n., 1549. OF. piastre,
plat, adj., flat, 1379. OF. plat,
plat, adv., entirely, 83.
plat, v. tr., strike: pret. 3 pi. plat,
1265. OE. plaettan.
plater, n., platter, 638. AN. plater,
plattyng, vbl. n., striking, 1542.
play, n., reveling, 1494, 1502; in-
tercourse, 700. OE. plega.
play, v. intr., bestir oneself, be
busy: pret. 3 pi. 787. OE.
plegan.
playn, adj., plain, smooth, 1068,
1134, 1531 * OF. plain,
playn, n., plain, 1379: pi. -es, 1216.
OF. plain.
plek, n., piece of ground, spot, 1379.
OE. *plecce; cf. MDu. plecke.
plese, v. tr., please: inf. 338. OF.
plaisir.
plow, n., 68. OE. ploh.
plunge, v. tr. : pp. 1008. AN.
plunger, OF. plongier.
plye, v. intr., incline, tend, 196; tr.
cover, 1385: 3 sg. -s, 196;
pret. 3 sg. plyed, 1385. OF. plier.
-Digitized by Google
Glossary
179
plyt\ n., sin, guilt, 1494. OE. pliht.
plyt 2 , n., condition: pi. -ez, in.
AN. plit, OF. *pleit, ploit.
polle, n., head, 1265. Cf. Du. polle.
polmcnt, n., a kind of pottage, 628,
638. Lat. pulmentum.
polyce, v. tr., polish: inf. 1131; pp.
1068; polysed, H 34 - OF.
poliss-, from polir.
polylc, n., poultry, 5 7 - 0F * P°“
- laille.
pomgarnade, n., pomegranate: pi.
-s, 1466. OF. pome garnade.
porche, n., 785. OF. porche.
porpre, n., purple, 1568, 1743; adj.
1637; porpor, 1743. OE. pur-
pure, and OF. purpre, porpre.
Porros, prop, n., Porus, 1 772. Lat.
Porus.
port, n., gate, 856. OF. porte.
portray e, v. tr., draw, carve;
fashion, form; 1271, 1465, 1536;
devise, 700 : pret. 1 sg. 700 ; 3 sg.
purtrayed, 1536; pp. portrayd,
1271, purtrayed, 1465. OF. pour-
traire.
porvaye, v. tr., arrange beforehand,
settle on: 3 sg. -s, 1502. AN.
porveier ; OF. porveeir, por-
veoir.
post, n., pillar: pi. -es, 1278. OE.
post.
potage, n., pottage, 638. OF.
potage.
pover, adj., poor, 773, 1074; as
noun, 127; poor servant, 615:
pover, 1074; povere, 615, 773;
pi. poveren, 127. OF. povre.
pover, adv., poorly, 146.
power, n., 1660 : pouer, 1654. AN.
poer, pouair; OF. poeir, pooir.
poynt, n v moment, 628; height,
1502, 1677; uch a poynt, every-
thing, 196: poynte, 628. OF.
point.
poynted, part, adj., 1408. OF.
pointer.
poyntel, n., a pointed instrument
for writing, 1533. OF. pointel.
poysened, part, adj., 1095. OF.
poisonner.
pray, n., that which is taken in war,
prey: in pray, as prey, 1297.
OF. preie.
pray, v. tr., plunder: pret. 3 sg.
1624. OF. pre(i)er.
pray, v. tr., beseech, ask: inf. 232,
615; pp. 72. OF. preier.
prayse, v. tr., value, 146; praise,
148, etc. ; glorify, 1313 : inf. 148,
189 (ger.) ; pret. 2 sg. 146; 3 sg.
642, 1313; 3 pi. 1479 ; PP- IH 7 -
OF. preisier.
prece, n., press, throng, 880. OF.
presse.
preche, v. tr., proclaim, declare:
pres. part, prechande, 942. OF.
prechier.
precious, adj., 1282: presyous,
1496. OF. precious,
prelate, n. : pi. -s, 1249. OF. prelat.
prese, v. tr., press in phrase ‘prese
to dej>e,’ 1249: pret. 3 pi. 1249.
OF. presser.
presens, n., presence, 8, 147, 1496.
OF. presence.
present, v. tr.: pret. 3 sg. 1297;
pp. 1217. OF. presenter,
presoner, n_, prisoner: pi. -es, 1217,
1297; -s, 1308. AN. prisoner,
OF. prisonier.
prest, n., priest, 1131 : pi. -es, 1249,
1265 ; -ez, 8. OE. preost.
prest, adj., ready, eager, 14 7. OF.
prest.
prestly, adv., quickly, 628.
preve, see prove.
Digitized by ^ooQle
i8o
Purity
profecie, n., prophecy , 1158; com-
pany of prophets , 1308: pi. -s,
1158. OF. profecie.
profer, v. intr., project: pret. 3 pi.
profert, 1463. OF. proferer.
proper, adj., excellent , 195. OF.
propre.
prophete, n., 1614; profete, 1624;
pi. -s, 1300, 1492. OF. prophete.
proud, adj., 232: proude, 1177;
prowde, 1772 ; superl. pruddest,
1300. LOE. prud, ON. pruCr.
prove, v. tr., prove, show, find (to
be), 1158, 1496, 1748; intr. prove,
704 : inf. preve, 704 ; pp. proved,
1158, 1496; preved, 1748. OF.
prover (pruev-).
province, n., 1300, 1614: provynce,
1624. OF. province,
prudly, adv., proudly, 1379, 14 66.
Cf. LOE. prut lice,
pryce, adj., chief, most eminent,
1614, absol. 1308; almost adv.,
as most worthy, choice, above
all, hi 7: prys, 1117. OF. pris.
pryde, n.: 179, 1227, 1349, 1389,
1450, 1657, 1677. LOE. pryto,
prydo.
prymate, n., chief, head, 1570. OF.
primat.
prynce, n., 49, 167, 195, 1214, 1217,
1570, 1654, 1660, 1748, 1772; pi.
prynces, 1215, 1518. OF. prince,
pryncipal, adj., princely, royal,
1781 : pryncipale, 1531. OF.
principal.
pryncipalte, n., dominion, sover-
eignty, 1672, 1738. OF. prin-
cipalte.
prys, see pryce, adj.
pryvy, adj., intimate, ‘ close' :
superl. pryvyest, 1748. OF.
prive.
pryvyly, adv., privately, in a place
apart, 238; skilfully, 1107:
pryvely, 238.
pulle, v. tr., 1265; intr., 68: inf.
68 ; pret. 3 pi. pulden, 1265. OE.
pullian.
pure, adj., pure, unalloyed, 1271;
true, very (= itself ) ; 704, 1570.
OF. pur.
pure, v. tr., purify: inf. 1116. OF.
purer.
purely, adv., entirely, completely,
1660.
pursaunt, n., space, enclosed
ground, 1385. AN. purceynt,
OF. porceint.
pursue, v. tr., used absol.: pret.
3 sg. 1177. AN. pursuer, OF.
porsievre, porsuire.
puryte, n., 1074. OF. purite.
put, v. tr. : pp. put, 244, 1214. LOE.
putian.
puttyng, vbl. n., 46.
pyche, v. tr., place, set, 477, 785,
1463; array, 83: inf. 477; pp,
py3t, 83, 785, 1463. ?OE. ♦pic-
cean.
pye, n., magpie: pi. -s, 1465. OF.
pie.
pyese, n., in phrase ‘in pyese,* per-
haps for ‘in pryse,* 1124 (see
note).
py3t, see pyche.
pyle, v. tr., pillage, rob: pret. 3 pi.
1270; pp. 1282. OE. pylian.
pylere, n., pillar: pi. -s, 1271, 1479.
OF. piler.
pyned, part, adj.* wasted, consumed,
1095. OE. pinian.
pynkardine, n., some precious
stone: pi. -s, 1472 (see note),
pypes, see pipe,
pyte, n., pity, 396: pite, 232.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
181
Q.
quat, see who, interr. pron.
quavende, part, adj., causing things
to quake , overwhelming , 324.
OE. *cwafian, parallel forma-
tion to cwacian.
quayntyse, see coyntyse.
qued, evil, 567. OE. cwead.
quelle, v. tr., kill, destroy : inf. 324,
567. OE. cwellan.
quen, see when.
queue, n., queen, 1351, 1586, I593»
1619. OE. cwen.
quej’e, v. tr., say (only in pret.) :
3 sg. quod, 139* 345. 349. 72 9,
733, 739, 757, 761, 7^5* 925, 929,
1593; 3 pi. 621, OE. cweCan.
quite, see whyte.
quo, see who, rel. pron.
quod, see que)>e.
quos, see who, rel. pron.
quoynt, adj., skilfully made, beauti-
ful, 1382, 1459; well-dressed,
160; dainty, 871: koynt, 1382.
OF. coint.
quoyntis, see coyntyse.
quyk, adj., living, 324; as pi. noun,
quykez, 567; prompt, 624; quik,
324. OE. cwicu.
quyle, conj„, while, 1686: quyl, 627.
OE. hwil, n.
quyte, v. tr., repay: 1 sg. quyte,
1632. OF. quiter.
R.
rac, n., driving clouds, storm, 433.
Cf. Norw. and Sw. dial. rak.
rachche, see reche.
rad, adj., frightened, 1543. ON.
hraeddr.
radly, adv., quickly, promptly, 671,
797. OE. hraedlice.
rafte, see reve.
ra3t, see reche.
rank, see ronk.
rankor, n., wrath, 756. OF. rancor,
rape, n., blow, 233. Prob. echoic,
raspe, v. tr., scratch: pret. 3 sg.
1545, 1724. OF. rasper,
rasse, n., ftop, 446 (see note).
Etym. unknown.
ratted, part, adj., ragged, torn, 144.
Cf. ME. rat, rag; etym. obscure,
raven, n., 455, 465. OE. hraefn.
raw, adj., (of silk) 790. OE.
hreaw.
rawj>e, n., pity, 972; remorse, 233.
Cf. OE. hreow.
rayke, v. intr., go, 671; flow, 382;
refl. betake oneself, 465 : inf.
671; 3 sg. -z, 465; pres. part,
raykande, 382. ON. reika.
rayn, n., 440, 953, 959- OE. regn.
rayne, v. intr. : inf. 354; pres. part.
raynande, 382. OE. regnian.
rayn-ryfte, n., break in the clouds
through which rain pours, 368.
Cf. ON. ript.
reame, see reme.
rebaud, n., dissolute man: pi. -ez,
873. OF. rebaud.
rebel, adj., disobedient, rebellious,
455. OF. rebelle.
rebounde, v. intr., be driven back:
pret. 3 sg. rebounde, 422. AN.
rebundir, OF. rebondir.
reche, n., smoke, 1009. OE. rec.
reche 1 , v. intr., care: 3 sg. reches,
465. OE. rec (e) an, recc(e)an.
reche 2 , v. tr., grant, give, 561, 1739;
yield, render, 1369; reach, 890;
touch, 10; intr. arrive, come, go,
619, 766, 906, 1766; extend, 1691 :
inf. 890, 1369; rachche, 619;
2 pi. reche, 906; 3 pi. -en, 10;
pres. subj. 3 sg. reche, 1766;
Digitized by ^ooQle
182
Purity
pret. 3 sg. ra3t, 561, 766, 1691;
pp. ra3t, 1739. OE. raec(e)an.
rccordc, v. tr.: 3 sg. -z, 25. OF.
recorder.
recoverer, n., recovery, safety, 394.
AN. recoverer, OF. recovrier.
red, adj., 1045. OE. read,
rede, v. tr., guide, protect, 1642;
counsel, 1346; interpret, 15 78;
read, 194, 1555, 159^, 1633; absoU
7: inf. 1555, 1578, 1596; 2 sg.
-s, 1633; 3 pi. -n, 7; pres. subj.
3 sg. rede, 1642; 3 pi. reden,
1346; pp. red, 194. OE. raedan,
redan.
redles, adj., without counsel, in dis-
may, 1 19 7: rydelles, 969. OE.
rsedleas, redleas.
redy, adj., ready, 345, 724, 869; in
pregnant sense, prompt (to
obey), 294. Cf. OE. raede.
reflayr, n., odor, scent, 1079. OF.
♦reflair.
ref ray ne, v. tr., restrain: inf. 756.
OF. refrener.
regioun, n., 760, 964. AN. regiun.
re3tful, n., righteous, 724. OE.
rihtful.
rehayte, v. tr„ cheer: inf. 127.
OF. rehaiter.
reken, adj., righteous, pious, 10, 738,
756; merry, 1082. OE. recen.
rekenly, adv., properly, piously,
1318; courteously, 1 27. OE.
recenllce.
rekken, v. tr., enumerate, relate, w.
up: inf. 2. OE. recenian.
relece, v. tr., release, deliver: 1 sg.
760. OF. relesser.
relygioun, n., state of being bound
by monastic vows, 7; f religious
house, 1156. AN. religiun, OF.
religion.
relyk, n. : pi. -es, 1156, 1269. OF.
relique.
reme, n., realm, 1572: pi. reames,
1316. OF. reaume.
remnaunt, n., rest, remainder, 433,
738. OF. remenant.
remue, v. tr., remove, take away:
pp. 646, 1673. OF. remuer.
renaye, v. tr., refuse: pp. 105. OF.
reneier.
rend, v. tr. : pp. 1595. OE. rendan.
See also rent.
rengne, n., reign, dominion, king-
dom, 1334, 1642, 1652, 1734, 1739.
OF. regne.
rengne, v. intr., reign, rule: pret.
3 sg. 1169, 1321; imper. pi. -z,
527; pp. 328. OF. regner.
renk, n., man, 766, etc.; renk of
relygioun, man belonging to a
monastic order , 7 ; ring, 592 ;
gen. sg. renkes, 786; pi. renkez,
7, 96, 105; renkkes, 969, 1514.
OE. rinc, ON. rekkr.
renischche, adj., strange, 96 ;
mysterious, 1545: runisch, 1545.
Etym. obscure.
renne, v. intr., run, 391, etc.; con-
tinue, 527: inf. 527, 1392; 3 pl.
-n, 1514; pret. 3 sg. ran, 797;
3 pl. runnen, 391 ; ran, 1208,
1269, 1782. ON. renna, OE.
rinnan.
rent, part, adj., torn, 40, 144.
renyschly, adv., ? strangely, 1724.
rere, v. tr., raise, 873; intr. rise
(up), 366, 423, 1461: 3 -s,
1461; pret. 3 sg. 366, 423; 3 pl-
rerd, 873. OE. raeran.
res, n., rush, run, 1782. OE. ras.
reset, n., refuge, shelter, 906. OF.
recet.
Digitized by L^ooQle
Glossary
183
rcsoun, n., statement, 194; words ,
talk, 184; sense, 1633; com -
mendation, 2; wisdom, 328:
reysoun, 328; pi. -ez, 184, 194;
-z, 2. OF. reison, resoun.
resounable, adj., sensible, wise, 724.
OF. reisonable.
rest, n., repose, 1208. OE. rest,
rest, n., remainder, rest, 890, 1766.
OF. reste.
reste, v. intr., rest, stay, remain, 446,
616, 619, 906; stand, 738: 3 sg.
-s, 738; pret. 3 sg. rest, 446;
imper. pi. rest, 906; pi. resttez,
619; pp. restted, 616. OE.
restan.
restlez, adj., unceasing, 527. OE.
restleas.
restore, v. tr. : pp. 1705. OF. re-
storer.
reve, v. tr., rob, take away : pret.
3 sg. rafte, 1431; pp. 1142, 1739.
OE. reafian.
revel, n., 1369. OF. revel,
reverence, n., 10; reverens, 1318,
1369. OF. reverence,
reward (e), n., reward, recompense,
return, 208, 1346. NF. reward,
OF. regard.
rewle, v. refl., conduct oneself:
pret. 3 sg. 294. OF. reuler.
reynyez, n. pi., reins (as seat of
feelings ), 592. OF. reins,
rialte, n., royalty, 1321 : rialty,
1371. OF. rialte, realte.
riboudrye, n., debauchery, lechery,
184. OF. ribauderie.
ridle, v. intr., fall (as from a sieve),
sift: pres. part, ridlande, 953.
Cf. LOE. hriddel, n.
rifte, n., fissure, cleft: pi. -s, 964.
Cf. Olcel. ript; Dan. and Norw.
rift.
ring, see renk.
robbe, v. tr., rob, steal: pret. 3 sg.
1156; pp. 1142. OF. rob(b)er.
robbor, n. : pi. -s, 1269. OF.
rob (b) ere.
robe, n., 144, 1595. OF. robe,
roborrye, n., robbery, 184. OF.
roberie.
roche, n., rock, cliff: pi. -z, 537.
OF. roche.
ro3, adj., rough, 1545, 1724: ro3e,
382. OE. ruh.
r°3ly, adj., trough, 433 (see note),
rok, n., rock, 446; palace, 1514
(see note). OF. roke.
role, v. intr., roll: pret. 3 sg. 423.
OF. roler.
rollande, part, adj., waving, curly,
790.
romye, v. intr., roar, cry: 3 sg. -s,
1543- OF. rumier (see note),
ronk, adj., violent, severe, 233; full-
grown, 869; vile, bad, 455, 760,
873: rank, 233. OE. ranc, rone,
rore, v. intr., roar: 3 sg. -z, 1543;
pret. 3 pi. 390. OE. rarian.
ros, see ryse.
rose, n., 1079; Roman de la Rose,
1057. OF. rose.
rose, v. tr., praise: inf. 1371. ON.
hrosa.
roste, v. tr., roast: pret. 3 sg.
rostted, 959; pp. 59. OF. rostir.
rote 1 , n., root, 619. LOE. rot<ON.
rot.
rote 2 , n., decay, 1079. Cf. OE.
rotian, v., and Norw. and Icel.
rot, n.
rote 8 , n., musical instrument, prob-
ably a kind of violin, 1079. OF.
rote.
ro)>ele, (see note on 59), v. intr.,
f huddle, 890 ; tr. fbring to-
Digitized by L^ooQle
184
Purity
gether, ? prepare, 59: pret. 3 sg.
890; pp. 59. ?Cf. ON. hroGa.
ro]>er, n., rudder , 419. OE. roGer.
ro]>un, n., 1009, perhaps for rotun,
rotten, used as noun. PON.
rotinn.
roum, n., room, 96. OE. rum.
rounde, adj., 927, 1121; on rounde,
around, 423. AN. rund, OF.
rond.
rowtande, part, adj., rushing, 354.
OE. hrutan.
rowte, n., company, band : pi. -s,
969, 1197, 1782. OF. route,
royl, adj., ? royal, splendid, 79a
OF. roial. {NED. s. v. royl,
gives only this instance, defined
as frich, luxuriant, and relates
to roil, v., roll, flow.) See also
ryal.
rubie, n.: pi. -s, 1471. OF. rubi.
ruddon, n., redness, 893. Cf. ON.
roGna, redden, and OE. rudu,
redness.
ruele, v. intr., fall: pret. 3 sg. 953.
Perh. OF. rueler, rouler, roll.
runisch, see renisctie.
rurd, n., cry, 390. OE. reord.
rusche, v. intr.: pret. 3 sg. 368.
AN. russher, OF. reusser, ruser.
ruj>c, v. tr., arouse: 3 pi. -n, 895;
pp. 1208. Etym. unknown,
rwe, v. impers., repent: 3 sg. -z,
290; pret. 3 sg. 561. OE. hreo-
wan.
rwly, adv., pitifully, 390. OE.
hreowllce.
ryal, adj., royal, splendid, 786: rial,
, 1082. OF. rial. See also royl.
ryally, adv., royally, 812.
ryche, adj., of wide application,
often a formal epithet: mighty ,
great, noble, wealthy, splendid,
costly, 37, etc.; as noun, great
man, sg. 1321; as pi. 1208: 37,
51, 176, 216, 571, 786, 812, 878,
1053, 1073, H59, 1197, 1208, 1223,
1276, 1309, 1321, 1506, 1513, 1514,
1642, 1658, 1685; rych, 1299,
1371; riche, 127; superl. rychest,
1217, 1572. OE. rice,
ryche, adv., richly, 1411. OE. rice,
rychely, adv., splendidly, brightly,
1045. OE. rlcllce.
ryde, v. intr.: inf., 1572; 3 sg. -s,
1293. OE. ridan.
rydelles, see redles.
ryg, n., storm, tempest, 382: ryge,
354. PON. hregg.
ry3t, adj., right, 282. OE. ryht.
ry3t, adv., correctly, 1346; just,
right (as intensive), 59, 1061,
1754. OE. ryhte.
ry3t, n., right (as distinguished
from wrong), 194; in phrases,
have ry3t, be right {in doing),
1318; by ry3t, correctly, truth-
fully, 1633 ; rightfully, with
justice, 2; on ry3t, truly, 1513:
ri3t, 2. OE. riht, ryht.
ry3tez, adv., precisely, 427. OE.
ryhtes, gen. sg. of ryht.
ryhtwys, adj., righteous, 294, 328.
OE. ryhtwis.
ryngande, part, adj., resounding,
1082. OE. hringan.
rynging, vbl. n., 1513.
rype, adj., ripe, 1045; mature, 869:
ripe, 1045. OE. ripe,
rype, v. tr., search into, scrutinize:
pres. part, rypande, 592. OE.
rypan.
ryse, v. intr., rise, w. up„ 671, 797:
inf. 363; 3 sg. -s, 369, 1793; -z,
853; pret. subj. 3 sg. rise, 932;
pret. 3 sg. ros, 797, 893, 1009,
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary 185
1766; rysed, 509, 838, 971, 1203,
1778; 3 pi. ros, 671. OE. rlsan.
ryth, n., bull , 1543. OE. *hr!C.
S.
sacrafyse, n., sacrifice: 510; sacra-
fyce, 1497 ; sacrefyce, 1447 ;
sakerfyse, 507. OF. sacrifice,
saddc, adj., solemn , 595; dignified ,
640; sorrowful, 525; long, 1286,
great, 657: sad, 595. OE. ssed.
sadel, n., saddle: pi. -es, 1213. OE.
sadol.
saf, see save.
safyre, n., sapphire: pi. -s, 1469.
OF. safir.
sage, adj., wise, 1576. OF. sage.
sa3e, see sawe.
saytle, v. intr., become reconciled,
230, 1139; settle (by confusion
w. ME. satle), 445: pret. 3 sg.
230, 445 ; PP- 1 139 * OE. sahtlian.
saytlyng, vbl. n., reconciliation, 490;
peace, 1795.
sake, n., 922. OE. sacu.
saklez, adj., innocent, 716. LOE.
sacleas.
sakre, tr. v., dedicate: pp. 1139.
OF. sacrer.
Salamon, prop, n., Solomon, 1453:
Salomon, 1286 ; gen. sg. Sala-
mones, 1171. Lat. Salomon, OF.
Salamon.
sale, n., hall, main room of a palace:
107, 120, 1260, 1417, 1442, 1577,
1722, 1757. OE. sael.
salt, adj.: 984, 995. OE. sealt, salt,
salt, n., 820, 823, 825, 997, 999. OE.
sealt, salt.
same, adj., 660. ON. samr.
samen, v. tr., assemble, 53, 126, 361 ;
intr. consort with, 870: inf. 870;
samne, 53; pp. samned, 126, 361.
OE. samnian.
samen, adv., together, 400„ 468, 645,
1291, 1363. OE. samen, ON.
saman.
samenfere, n., fellow-traveller: pi.
-s, 985.
sample, n., illustrative story: pi. -s,
1326. OF. essample.
sancta sanctorum, n., 1274, 1491.
sapyeiu;e, n., wisdom, 1626. OF.
sapience.
sardiner, n., precious stone (men-
tioned in Rev. 4. 3), 1469. Late
Lat. sardlnus.
Sare, prop., n., Sarah: 623, 649,
654, 660, 661, 666, 667. Lat.
Sarai.
sarre(st), see sore,
sat, see sytte.
Satanas, prop, n., Satan, 1449. Lat.
Satanas.
sathrapa, n., satrap, governor: pi.
-s, 1576. Lat. satrapa.
sauce, n., 823. OF. sauce,
saudan, n., sultan, 1323 : gen. sg. -s,
1364, 1388. OF. soudan.
saule, see sawle.
saundyver, n., sandiver, glass-gall,
1036. OF. suin de verre.
♦sauteray, n., psaltery, mediceval
stringed instrument, 1516. OF.
sauterie.
save, prep., except, 409: saf, 1749.
OF. sauf.
save, v. tr.; inf. 332, 358, 388, 922,
988; pp. 992. OF. sauver.
savement, n., safety, 940. OF.
sauvement.
Savior, n. : 176, 746: saveour, 576.
OF. sauveour.
savor, n., taste, 995; smell, 510,
1447. OF. savour.
Digitized by L^ooQle
Purity
1 86
savor, v. tr., flavor, 825 ; know,
apprehend, 581 (see note) : pres.
3 sg. saverez, 825; imper. sg.
♦savor, 581. OF. savorer,
savyte, safety, 489. OF. sauvete.
sawe, n., saying, word, speech 1545,
1599, 1609, 1737; command, de-
cree, 109, 1670: sawe, 109; sa3e,
1670; pi. sa3es, 1599, 1737;
sawes, 1609; sauez, 1545. OE.
sagu.
sawle, n., soul: 1130, 1599, 1626;
saule, 290, 575, 1135; sawele,
1139; pi. saulez, 332. OE.
saw(e)l.
say, v. tr.: inf. 53, hi 2, 1552; 2 sg.
seggez, 621 ; 3 sg. saytz, 29, 75 ;
says, 657; pres. subj. 1 sg. say,
868; pret. 3 sg. sayde, 63, 97,
470, 612, 631, 654, 661, 681, 715,
822, 919, 1622; sade, 210; 3 pi.
sayden, 645, 647; imper. sg. say,
139. OE. secgan.
sayl, n., 420. OE. seg(e)l.
sayne, v. tr., bless: pret. 3 pi. 986;
pp. 746. OE. segnian.
scale, v. tr. : pret. 3 pi. *1776. OF.
escaler.
scape, v. intr., escape: inf. 62, 928;
pret. 3 pi. 529. Cf. NF. escaper.
See ascape.
scarre, v. tr., frighten, alarm, 838;
scatter, 598 (see note) ; intr.,
f spread, frise, 1784; 3 sg. -z,
598; pret. 3 sg. 1784; pp. 838.
Cf. ON. skirra.
scaj?e, n., harm, injury, 151, 1186;
w. emphasis on evil bringing
‘harm’ about, wrong, sin, 21,
196, 569, 598, 1148; dire punish-
ment, 600; ska)?e, 151, 598, 1186.
ON. skaSi.
scelt, see skelt.
schadow, n., shade, 605. OE.
sceadu.
sc had, see schede.
schal, v., 28, etc.; ought (past
tense), 61, 152, 1077; to be
(about) to, 249: 1 sg. schal, 21 1,
286, 292, 307, etc.; 2 sg. schal,
329, 1640 ; schalt, 742 ; 3 sg.
schal, 28, 29, 47, 289, etc.; 1 pi.
schal, 907; 3 pi. schal, 170, 523,
716, 718, 725, 1740; schul, 107;
schin, 1435; schyn, 1810; pres,
subj. 1 sg. schale, 553; 3 pi.
schal, 712; pret. 1 sg. schulde,
915; 2 sg. mo; 3 sg. 42, 152,
566, etc. ; schuld, 249, 1365J 1 pi.
schulde, 1 12; 3 pi. 53, 61, 671,
934, 1363; pret. subj. 3 pi. 108.
OE. sculan.
schalke, n., man, 1029: pi. schalk-
kez, 762. OE. sc (e) ale.
schame, n., 597, 850: schome, 1115.
OE. sc(e)amu.
schame, v. intr., feel shame: 3 sg.
-z, 580. OE. sc(e)amian.
schap, n., shape, form, 1121: pi.
schappes, 1460. OE. gesc(e)ap.
schape, v. intr., endeavor, 762; tr.
decree, 742. Cf. OE. scieppan,
pp. sc(e)apen.
scharp, adj., keen, intense, 850;
great, 1310; penetrating, 840;
swift , 475* scharpe, 475, 850.
OE. sc(e)arp.
sc haven, part, adj., scraped, 1134.
OE. sc(e)afan, v.
schawe, see schewe.
schede, v. intr., fall: pret. 3 sg.
schad, 1690. OE. sceadan.
schelde, n., shield or flank (of a
boar) : pi. -z, 58. OE. sceld.
schende, v. tr., confound, disgrace,
47 , 580; destroy, ruin, 742, 1029;
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
absol., 519: inf. S l 9, 742; pp.
schent, 47, 580, 1029. OE.
scendan.
schene, adj., beautiful , fair, 170,
1076, 131a OE. sclene, scene,
schepon, n., cattle-shed, 1076. OE.
scypen.
♦schere-wyke, n. : pi. -s, groin, 1690
(see note).
schewe, v. tr., exhibit, display, in 7,
1310; display, show (malice,
etc.), 250, 919; offer, 122 ; prove,
600, 1805; expound, set forth,
662, 1599, 1626; speak, utter,
840; refl., appear, 170; intr., ap-
pear, 553; be seen, 791: inf.
schewe, 122, 170, 553; schawe,
1599, 1626; 3 pi. schewe, 840;
pret. 1 sg. 662; 3 sg. *79!; PP-
600, 919, 1117, 1310* 1805;
scheued, 250. OE. sceawian.
schin, see schal.
schome, see schame.
schonie, v. tr., shun: pret. 3 sg.
1 10 1. OE. scunian.
schor, n., shower, 227. OE. scur.
schortly, adv., quickly, hastily, 519,
600, 742. OE. sc(e)ortlice.
schote, v. intr., rush: pret. 3 sg.
schot, 850. OE. sceotan, str. v.;
scotian, wk. v.
schout, n., shout, 840. Cf. ON.
skuta, taunt.
schowve, v. tr., thrust violently,
cast, 44, 1029; eject, 1740: pp.
44, 1029, 1740. OE. scufan.
schrank, see schrynke.
schrewe, n., wicked person: pi. -z,
186. OE. screawa.
schrewedschyp, n., wickedness, 580.
schroude-hous, n., dwelling which
affords shelter, 1076.
187
schrowde, n., garment, clothes, 4 7,
170. OE. scrud.
schryfte, n., shrift, sacrament of
penance, 1115, 1130, H33- OE.
scrift.
schrylle, adj., shrill, 84a Cf. LG.
schrell.
schrynke, v. intr., shrink: pret.
3 sg. schrank, 85a OE. scrincan.
schulder, n., shoulder, 981 : pi. -es,
1690. OE. sculdor.
schunt, v. intr., go aside: pp.
schunt, 605. Etym. obscure,
perh. derivative of OE. scunian
(see schonie).
schyn, see schal.
schyne, v. intr., shine: inf. 1115;
3 sg. -s, 1121 ; pret. 3 sg. schyned,
1532. OE. scinan.
schyre, adj., bright, shining, 553,
605, 1278; quasi-adv., 1121:
schyr, 1121. OE. sclr.
scla3t, n., slaughter, 56. OE. slieht,
slaeht.
scole, n., drinking-cup, 1145. ON.
skal.
scolere, n., scholar: pi. -s, 1554.
OE. scolere.
scomfyte, v. tr., discomfit, throw
into confusion: pret. 3 sg. 1784;
pp. scoumfit, 151. Aphetic from
OF. desconfit, pp. of desconfire.
scorne, n., 827. OF. escarn.
scorne, v. tr.: pp. 709. Cf. OF.
escarnir.
scowte-wach, n., sentinel, guard
(here prob. collective), 838. OF.
escoute + OE. waecca.
scoymus, adj., having repugnance
or abhorrence, particular, 21,
1148: skoymos, 598. AN. es-
coymous.
Digitized by L^ooQle
i88
Purity
scrape, v. tr.: pp. 1546. OE.
scrapian, ON. skrapa.
♦scrof, adj., Trough , 1546. ?Cf. OE.
scruf, scurf.
scrypture, n., inscription, writing,
1546. Lat. scriptura.
scylful, adj., righteous, 1148. See
skyl.
se, v. intr., look, 661, 1225; tr. see,
68, etc.; perceive, 398, 515: inf.
se, 126, 176, 595, 1055, 1 1 12, 1810;
see, 68, 192, 262, 988; 1 sg. se,
515; pres. subj. 3 sg. se, 178;
see, 576; pret. 2 sg. se3, 1710;
3 sg. 209, 398; sy3e, 788; 3 pi.
sy 3 e, 985,* se3en, 1529; imper.
sg. se, 661, 1225; pp. sen, 1169.
OE. seon.
seche, v. tr., seek, try to find , 454,
469, 47 i, 482, 484, 478, 1559, 1615;
try, endeavor (w. inf.), 201,
1286; intr., w. after, 420; go,
come, 29, 510, 563, 940, 1130,
1371 : inf. 29, 420, 454, 471, 482,
*559, 1615; 3 sg. -z, 469, 478,
484; pres. subj. 3 sg. seche,
1130; pret. 3 sg. so3t, 201, 510,
563, 940, 1286; 3 pi. so3tten,
1371. OE. sec (e) an.
secounde, adj., 427. OF. second,
sede, n., seed, 336, 523; offspring,
660: sed, 358. OE. saed, sed.
see, n., sea: 1015, 1020; se, 984;
gen. sg. se, 1039. OE. sae.
seete, see sete, n.
sege, n., siege, 1185. OF. sege,
siege.
segge, n., man: 117, 398, 549, 973;
segg, 681; pi. -z, 93, 833, 844;
-s, 1401, 1559, 1785. OE. secg.
Segor, prop, n., Zoar: 926, 973, 986,
992. Lat. Segor.
se3<en), see se.
seknesse, n., sickness, 1078. OE.
seocness.
selcouth, n., marvel, wonder, 1274.
OE. sel(d)cuC.
self, intens. pron., very, same, 243,
etc.; as noun, 579, 786: self,
1418, 1769; selve, 660; selven,
243 , 579 , 786, 1068, 1399, 1745 .
In cpd. pronouns, often w. no
intensive force and equivalent to
simple pronouns: myself, 291;
myselven, 194, 691, 700, 1572;
>yself, 581, 582 (refl.) ; yor-
selven, 863; yowself, 340; hym-
self, 23, 209, 490, 584; himself,
924, himselfe, 1498; hymselven,
9, 219, 284, 435, 695, 1426, 1448,
I 59i, 1656, 1702; himselven,
1237; hirself (refl.), 654, 822;
hitselven, 281; hemself, 15, 388
(refl.), hemselven (refl.), 702.
OE. self.
selle, v. tr.: 3 pi. -n, 1038. OE.
sellan.
sely, adj., harmless, helpless, 490.
OE. saelig, selig.
Sem, prop, n., Shem, 299, 555. Lat
Sem.
semblaunt, n., demeanor, 640 ;
friendly welcome, 13 1. OF. sem-
blant.
semble, n., assembly, throng, 126.
OF. assemblee, AN. semble(e).
sem, n., seam, blemish, 555. OE.
seam.
seme, adj., seemly, 1810; pleasing,
seemingly good, 549. ON. scemr.
seme, v. impers., become, 793 ; intr.
seem, 117, 416: pret. 3 sg. 117,
416, 793. ON. sfema.
semely, adv., in a pleasing manner,
1442. ON. scemiliga.
Digitized byijOOQ 1C
Glossary
189
semly, adj., seemly, fair, 209, 262,
816, 1299; as noun, 870, 1055 (of
Lord) : semely, 1469; semlych,
1247 ; superl. semloker, 868.
ON. scemiligr.
sende, v. tr., 53, etc.; absol., 780;
w. out, 353: inf. 666; 1 sg.
sende, 353; 3 sg. -z, 595; pres,
subj. 3 sg. sende, 1811; pret.
3 sg. sende, 53, 489, 780, 1005,
1454; imper. sg. sende, 1615; pp.
sende, 781, 922, 1705, 1722. OE.
sendan.
ser, adj., single, separate, 507;
various, 336, 358, 1418 : sere,
1418. ON. ser.
sergaunt, n., servant: pi. -ez, 109.
OF. ser j ant.
serge, n., wax candle: pi. -s, 1489.
OF. cerge.
servage, n., servitude, bondage,
1257. OF. servage.
servaunt, n.: 631, 773; pi. -es, 988.
OF. servant.
serve, v. intr., 530, 1264, ?i4i 7,
1812; tr., 18, etc.: inf. 530, 724,
750, 1449, 1505, 1510. 1812; pret.
3 sg. 639, 997, 1146; 3 pl. 1264,
*1406; imper. pl. -z, 820; pp. 18,
38, 120, 829, 1 1 15, 1417. OF.
servir.
servyse, n., service, 1152; (at
table), 1401. OF. servise.
sese 1 , v. tr., seize, take possession
of: 3 sg. -s, 1795; Pret. 3 sg.
1313. OF. saisir, seisir.
sese 3 , v. intr., cease, fail: inf. 523.
OF. cesser.
sesoun, n., season: pl. -ez, 523.
AN. se(i)sun, OF. se(i)son.
set, part, adj., appointed, 1364.
sete 1 , n., in phrase 'to ]>e sete/ 59
(see note). 'Related to sit ’ —
NED.
sete 3 , n., seat, throne; abode: 3 7,
176, 557 , 1055, 1388, 1395 , 1705;
seete, 92. ON. saeti.
sete, see sette, sytte.
seten, see sytte.
sette, v. tr., set, place, put, seat, 37,
etc. ; bring about, 1225 ; sette
sege, 1185; sette on, decide on,
choose, 469; sette at lyttel, dis-
regard, 1710; sette sy3t toward,
turn toward , 672; sit (by con-
fusion with str. verb), 1395;
refl., apply oneself, 1453 : inf.
sete, 1395; 3 sg. settez, 469, 636;
pret. 1 sg. sette, 290; 2 sg. set,
1710; 3 sg. sette, 507; sete,
1453 ; 3 pl. setten, 672 ; pp. sette,
37, 673, 986, 1185, 1388, 1449;
set, 1015, 1225, 1401. OE. settan.
se}>e, v. tr., cook: pres. subj. 3 sg.
se)>e, 631. OE. seo$an.
seue, n., pottage, 108: pl. -z, 825.
OE. seaw.
seven, adj.: 334, 353, 1188, 1380,
1387, *1453, 1686. OE. seofon.
seven)?e, adj., 361, 427. OE. seofoCa.
sewer, n., servant charged with the
service of the table, 639. Cf. OF.
asseour.
sex, adj., six, 426. OE. sex.
seye, v. intr., pass: pp. 353. OE.
sigan.
sideborde, n., side-table: pl. -s,
1398. OE. sid + bord.
sir, n., 715, 900, 1622. Reduced
form of syre.
sitte, see sytte.
sive, n., sieve, 226. OE. sife.
skarmoch, n., skirmish, encounter,
1186. OF. escarmoche.
skaj>e, see scal’e.
skele, n., platter: pl. -s, 1405. ?OF.
escuele.
Digitized by L^ooQle
190
Purity
skelt, v. intr., ? apply oneself, 1554;
tr. spread, 1186, 1206; ? serve,
827: pret. 3 sg. scelt, 827; pret.
3 pi. skelten, 1554 ; pp. skelt,
1186, 1206. Etym. obscure,
skete, adj., swift, lively, 1186. ON.
skjotr.
skowte, v. intr., scout, search : 3 sg.
-z, 483. OF. escouter.
skoymos, see scoymos.
skwe, n., sky, cloud: skwe, 483;
scue, 1784; pi. -s, 1759; skewes,
1206. Trob. of Scand. origin
and related to sky’ — NED.
skyg, adj., fastidious, 21. Cf.
Norw. and Sw. dial, skygg.
skyft, v. tr., change (= disobey) :
pp. 709. ON. skipta.
skyl, n., reason, 151 ; sense, 823;
significance, 1554; mind, 827;
ordinance, decree, 569, 709 :
scylle, 15 1. ON. skil.
skyly, n., ? separation, f purpose, 529
(see note); excuse, 62: skylly,
529 .
skyre, adj., clear, 1776. ON. skirr.
skyrme, v. intr., fly swiftly, dart
about : 3 sg. -z, 483. OF. es-
kirmir.
skyvalde, see note on 529.
slau]?e, n., sloth, 178. ‘Formed di-
rectly on slaw, slow, in place of
OE. slaewtS’ — NED.
slaye, v. tr., slay : pret. 3 sg. slow,
1221; 3 pi. slowen, 1247; slouen,
1264; pp. slayne, 55, 1785. OE.
slean.
sleke, v. tr., quench, 708. Cf. OE.
sleccan.
slepe, v. intr., sleep: pres. part.
slepande, 1785. OE. slepan.
sly3t, n., skill, 1289. ON. slsegtS.
slyp, n., stroke, blow, 1264.
slyppe, v. intr., escape, 1785; w.
by, slip, pass, 985 : inf. 1785 ;
pret. 3 pi. 985. MLG. slippen.
smach, n., scent, smell, 461, 1019.
Cf. OE. smaec (infl. by verb?),
smache, v. intr., smell: pres. part,
smachande, 955. OE. smaec-
c(e)an.
smal, adj., 226. OE. smael.
smart, adj., bitter, 1019. OE.
smeart.
smartly, adv., sharply, severely, 71 1.
smelle, n., 461, ♦1019. ?OE. *smel.
smod, n., filth, 71 1. Cf. LG. smad-
dern, v.
smoke, n., 955. OE. smoca.
smoke, v. intr.: 3 sg. -z, 226. OE.
smocian.
smolderande, part, adj., suffocating,
955. ME. smolder, n. prob. a
variant of ME. smorCer (based
on OE. smorian).
smolt, v. intr., go, start off, 461;
escape (perh. be at peace), 732:
inf. 732: 3 sg. -es, 461. Etym.
obscure.
smo)>ely, adv., quietly, peaceably,
732. Cf. OE. smotS, adj.
smylt, part, adj., strained, 226 (see
note).
smyte, v. tr., smite: inf. 566, 71 1.
OE. smitan.
snaw, n., snow, 222. OE. snaw.
so, adv., 17, 140, 147, I5L etc.; w.
indef. article, 144, 728, 1014, 1075,
1339; thus, 29, 69, 118, 661, 98*,
988, 1129, 1225, 1257, 1331; ac-
cordingly, 685; true (after ‘is’),
669; as intensive, often mean-
ingless, 218, 434, 455, 552, etc.;
soever, 100, 422, 819, 1648; cor-
rel. w. ‘as,’ 198, 200, 201, 227,
519, 1045, 1076; so . . . to,
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
904; so J>at, 83. OE. swa. For
‘who so/ etc., see who, rel.
so, conj., as, 786: sone so, as soon
as, 1550; introd. parenthesis,
232, 1148. OE. swa.
soberly, adv., solemnly, 149 7;
humbly, 799. OF. sobre.
Sodamas, prop, n., Sodom: 672 ,
679, 689, 722, 780, 781, 868, 956;
Sodomas, 844, 910, 1005 ; So-
domis, 773. Lat. Sodoma.
sodenly, adv., suddenly, 201, 910,
1769. Cf. OF. soudain.
soerly, adj., filthy, base, n 7 (see
note). ON. saurligr.
softe, adj., fair, wild, 445. OE.
softe.
softely, adv., 822.
so3t, see seche.
solace, n., pleasure, joy: 870, 1080,
1418, 1678, 1757, 1812. OF. solas,
solase, v. tr., entertain, cheer: pret.
3 sg. 131. OF. solasier.
solemne, adj., 1171 : solempne, 1447.
OF. solem(p)ne.
solemnete, n., solemnity, ‘ high
estate,’ 1678 ; wyth solemnete,
ceremoniously, 1313 ; festival,
1757 : solempnete, 1678, 1757.
OF. solempnete.
solempnely, adv., ceremoniously, 37.
solie, n., seat, throne, 1171: soly,
1678. Lat. solium,
somer, n., summer, 525 : pi. -es,
1686. OE. sumor.
somones, n., summons, 1498. OF.
somo(u)nes.
sonde, n., messenger, 53: pi. -s,
781. OE. sand, sond.
sondezmon, n., messenger, 469.
sone, adv., quickly, without delay,
soon, 361, 461, 463, 501, 1059,
1150, 1435, 1437, 1478, 1649, 1705,
191
1743; as sone as, 219; sone so,
155a OE. sona.
sonet, n., music, 1516; T musical
instrument, 1415: pi. -ez, 1415.
OF. sonet.
songe, n., 1080. OE. sang, song.
songe(n), see synge.
sonne, see sunne.
sope, n., sup, draught, 108. OE.
sopa.
soper, n., supper, 107, 829, 997, 1763.
OF. soper.
sore, adj., painful, 1078; suffering,
sore, mi: superl. sarrest, 1078.
OE. sar.
sore, adv., sorely, deeply, 290, 557,
1136; grievously, 1195: comp,
sarre, 1195. OE. sare.
sorgo 1 , n., sorrow, 75, 563, *778;
sor3, 1080. OE. sorg.
sorge 2 , n., filth, 846 (see note).
Cf. ON. saurr, filth; ON. sori,
and Sw. sorja, mud, and ON.
saurgan, pollution.
sorser, n., sorcerer: pi. -s, 1579.
AN. sorcer, OF. sorcier.
sorsory, n., sorcery, 1576. OF.
s or eerie.
soth, adj., true, 1643: sothe, 515.
OE. soC.
sotte, n., fool, 581. OF. sot, adj.
soJ>e, n., truth: pi. -s, 1598, 1626.
OE. soC.
so|?efast, adj., true, very, 1491. OE.
soCfaest.
solely, adv., truly: 657; sothely,
666 ; so>ly, 299 ; sothly, 654.
OE. sofillce.
soufre, n., sulphur, 954, 1036. OF
soufre.
souly, adj., vile, mi. Cf. sowle.
soun, n., sound, 9 73; noise, clamor
(Vulg. clamor), 689. AN. soun,
OF. son.
Digitized by ^ooQle
192
Purity
soun, see sun.
sounde, adj., sound , well, 1078;
perfect, 555 ; quasi-adv., safe,
1795 * Cf. OE. gesund.
soune, v. intr., sound: pret. 3 sg.
1670. OF. suner.
soupe, v. intr., eat supper: pp. 833.
OF. souper.
sour, adj., sour, bitter, 1036; as
noun, 820. OE. sur.
sour, adj., base, vile, 192. Cf. ON.
saurr, and see note on 117.
soverayn, n., sovereign, 93, 178, 210,
552, 557, 780, 1152, *1225, 1289,
1313, 1643; as adj., 1454, 1670
(perh. gen.). OF. soverain.
sowle, adj., unclean, foul, 168. Cf.
WFlem. sowelen, v.
soyle, n., earth ground, 1387. AN.
soyl.
space, n., time, opportunity, 1774;
t course, custom , 755; in space,
shortly , soon , 1606. OF. espace.
spakly, adv., promptly, perh. cer-
tainly, 755. ON. spakliga.
spare, v. tr., 776, 1245; intr., 755:
inf. 755, 776, 1245. OE. sparian.
spec, n., speck, 551. OE. specca.
speche, n., speech, discourse,
words: 3, 26, 729, 761, 874, 1058,
1098, 1492, 1565, 1592, 1602, 1729.
OE. spaec, spec.
special, adj., specially chosen, 1492.
OF. especial.
sped, n., aid, 1607; as adj., in ‘sped
whyle,* short time, 1285. OE.
sped.
spede, v. intr., succeed, 1058; tr.
prosper, 511; cause, 551: inf.
551, 1058; 3 sg. -z, 511. OE.
spedan.
spedly, adv., quickly, 1729. OE.
spedlice.
speke, v. intr., speak: inf. 301;
3 sg. -s, 51 1 ; pret. 3 sg. speke,
1220 ; 3 pi. speken, 646, 845 ; pp.
spoken, 1671. OE. sp(r)ecan.
spere, n., spear: pi. spere, 1383.
OE. spere.
spitous, adj., abominable, 845.
Aphetic from AN. despitous.
spitously, adv., shamefully, in con-
tempt, 1220, 1285.
spote, n., stain, 551. OE. spot,
spoyle, v. tr., plunder, 1774; seize
as booty, 1285: inf. 1774; pret.
3 sg. 1285. OF* espoillier.
sprad, see sprede.
sprawlyng, vbl. n., 408. OE.
spreawlian.
sprede, v. intr., be spread out,
1565; be diffused, be present,
1607 : 3 sg. -s, 1565 ; pret. 3 sg.
sprad, 1607. OE. spraldan.
spryng, v. intr., go forth, spread:
inf. 1362. OE. springan.
♦spumande, part, adj., spuming,
foaming, 1038. OF. espumer.
spure, v. tr., ask: pret. 3 sg. 1606.
OE. spyrian.
spute, v. intr., utter: pret. 3 pi.
sputen, 845. Aphetic from OF.
desputer.
spye, v. tr., spy, discover, 1774;
intr., 780: inf. 780; pp. 1774.
OF. espier.
spylle, v. tr., destroy, kill, 511, 1220:
scatter, 1248: 3 sg. -z, 51 1; pret.
3 sg. spylt, 1220; 3 pi. spylled,
1248. OE. spillan.
spyrakle, n., breath (spiraculum
vitae, Vulg. Gen. 7. 22), 408.
OF. spiracle.
spyryt, n., 1607. AN. spirit, OF.
esperit.
spyrytually, adv. (abbrev. spually),
1492. Cf. OF. spiritual, adj.
_ll
Google
Glossary
i93
spyser, n., dealer, apothecary: pi.
-ez, 1038. OF. espicier.
spyt, wrath, 755. Aphetic from
OF. despit.
stable, v. tr., establish, 1334, 1652;
set, 1667: pret. 3 sg. 1334; PP-
1652, 1667. OF. establir.
stac, see steke.
stad(de), see stede.
stal, n., place, room, 1506. OE.
steall, stall.
stalle, v. tr., place, 1378; en-
throne, 1334; bring to a stand,
. stop, 1184: inf. 1184; pp. 1334,
1378. OE. *steallian; perh. also
OF. estaler.
stal worth, adj., mighty, 255 ; strong,
884; immovable, 983: superl.
stalworJ>est, 255. OE. stael-
wierfte.
stamyn, n., prow, 486. ON. stamn.
stanc, n., pool, 1018: pi. stangez,
439. OF. estanc.
stande, v. intr. : inf. stonde, 1490;
3 sg. -z, 984; -s, 999; pres. subj.
3 sg. stande, 1618; pret. 3 sg.
stod, 486; 3 pi. stod, 255. OE.
standan.
stang, see stanc.
stare, n., power of sight, 583.
stare, v. intr., gaze, look, 389, 787;
shine, 1396, 1506: pret. 3 sg. 787,
1506; 3 pi. 389; stayred, 1396.
OE. starian.
state, n., 1708. OF. estat.
statue, n., 995. OF. statue,
staue, v. tr., stow, lodge, place: 3 sg.
-z, 480; pp. 352, 357; stawed,
360; stowed, 1 13. OE. stowigan.
stede, v. tr., only in pp., placed,
fixed: stad, 90, 1506; stadde,
806, 983. ON. steSja, pp. staddr.
steke, v. tr., shut up, enclose, 157,
352, 360; fasten, lock, 884, 1524;
close, stop, 439 (w. up), 754;
intr., be shut in (infl. in mean-
ing by wk. stykke q. v.), 1199:
inf. 754; pret. 3 sg. stac, 439;
3 pi. steken, 884; stoken, 1199;
imper. pi. stekez, 157, 352; pp.
stoken, 360, 1524. OE. *stecan.
stele, v. tr., capture by surprise,
1 778; intr. (w. oute), slip, steal,
1203: pret. 3 pi. stel, 1203;
stelen, 1778 ; see also stollen.
OE. stelan.
stemme, v. intr., stop, delay: pres,
subj. 2 pi. stemme, 905. ON.
stemma.
stepe, n., step, 905. OE. staepe,
stepe.
stepe, adv., brightly, 1396.
steppe, adj., bright, brilliant, 583.
OE. steap.
sterre, n., star: pi. -z, 1378. OE.
steorra.
Steven 1 , n., voice, 770 ; sound, noise,
outcry, 1203, 1402, 1524, 1778.
OE. stefn, fern.
steven*, n., appointed time, assigna-
tion, 706. OE. stefn, masc.
steven*, n., command, bidding, 360,
463. ON. stefna, LOE. stefn.
stewarde, n., 90. OE. stlweard.
stiffe, adj., rigid, 983; stout, stal-
wart, 255 : superl. styfest, 255.
OE. stlf.
stifly, adv., firmly, fast, 157 : styfly,
352 , 1652.
stik, see stykke.
stod, see stande.
stoffe, v. tr., fill, crowd: pp. 1184.
OF. estoffer.
stoken, see steke.
stokke, n., (only in plural), wooden
block, i. e. lifeless image in
phrase ‘stokkes and stones,’ 1343,
1523, 1720 ; frame of timber for
Digitized by L^ooQle
i 9 4
Purity
confining and punishing crimi-
nals, stocks, 46, 157: -s, 1343,
1523, 1720; -z, 46; stokez, 157.
OE. stocc.
stollen, part, adj., stolen, secret, 706.
See stele,
ston, n., stone, rock, 983, 999, 1343,
1523, 1667, 1720; precious stone,
1120, 1280, 1396, 1470: pi. -es,
1120, 1280, 1343, 1396, 1470, 1523:
-ez, 1720. OE. stan.
stonde, n., blow, 1540. Cf. OE.
stunian, strike, dash against .
stonde, see stande.
stonen, adj., made of stone, 995.
ston-harde, adv., firmly, 884.
stop, v. tr., close up : pret. 3 sg. 439.
OE. *stoppian.
storme, n., 225. OE. storm, ON.
stormr.
stound, n., time, moment, 1716; in
stoundes, at ( different ) times,
1603. OE. stund.
stout, adj., strong, bold, 787, 1184;
w. vaguer meaning, great,
mighty, 1343, 139^: stoute, 1343,
1396. OF. estout.
stowed, see staue.
strange, adj., foreign, 875; odd,
singular, 409; unheard of, mon-
strous, 861 : straunge, 409. OF.
estrange.
stray, v. intr. : inf. 1199. OF.
estraier.
strayne, v. tr., weaken: pret. 3 sg.
1540. OF. estraindre.
strayt, adv., closely, hard, 880, 1199.
OF. estreit, close .
streche, v. intr., walk, hasten : im-
per. pi. -z, 905. OE. strecc(e)an.
streme, n., stream, current : pi. -z,
364, 374. OE. stream.
strenkle, v. tr., scatter, dispel: inf.
307 (see note). Etym. uncertain,
strenkle, n., force, violence, 880,
1155; might, 1430, 1667: strenj>e,
ii 55 , 1430. OE. strengCu.
strete, n., street, 787, 806 ; highway,
77: pi. streetez, 77. OE. strxt,
stret.
strok, n., 1540. OE. strac.
stronge, adj., strong, mighty, 835,
1181, 1652; powerful, 1034;
severe, 1227, 1540; great, 1494:
strong, 1034 ; compu as n.
stronger, 835. OE. strang,
strong.
strye, v. tr., destroy: inf. 307, 1768;
pret. 3 sg. 1018; stryede, 375.
Aphetic from OF. destruire.
stryke, v. tr., strike up, sound:
pret. 3 pi. strake, 1402. OE.
strlcan.
stud, n., place, 1334, 1378; high
place, 389. OE. stede, styde.
sturne, adj., loud: pi. sturnen,
1402. OE. styrne.
styfest, see stiffe.
styfly, see stifly.
sty3e, v. intr., climb, mount: pret.
3 pi. sty3e, 389. OE. stlgan.
sty3tle, v. tr., arrange, take charge
of: ppu 9a Cf. OE. stihtan.
stykke, v. tr., fasten, 157; set, fix,
583 : imper. stik, 157 ; pret. 3 sg.
583. OE. stician.
stylle, adj., quiet, 589, 1203; dumb,
1523: stille, 1523. OE. stille.
stylle, adv., still, quietly: 486, 497,
706, 936, 1781. OE. stille.
stylly, adv., quietly, 806; stealthily,
1778. OE. stillice.
styngande, part, adj., stinging, 225.
OE. stingan.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
*95
stynke, v. intr. : pres. 3 sg. stynkkez,
577; 3 pl. stynkes, 847 ; pres. part,
stynkande, 1018. OE. stincan.
stynt, v. intr., cease, stop: inf. 225,
381, 1261; 3 sg. *styntez (MS.
stystez), 359. OE. stintan.
styry, v. intr., stir: inf. 1720; pret.
3 sg. 403. OE. styrian.
such, adj., 190, 192, 658, 703, etc.;
as pron., 1039, 1061 ; such a, 354,
748, 873, 971, etc.; such ano)>er,
1668; o|>er such, 1036; such . . .
as, 640: suche, 541, 1009, 1039,
1588. OE. swylc.
sue, v. intr., follow: pret. 3 sg. 681 ;
3 pl. swyed, 87. AN, suer,
suir(e), OF. sivre.
suffer, v. tr., 716, etc.; ?intr., Tbe
suffered , 892: inf. 716, 718, 1256;
pret. 3 sg. suffred, 892; pp. sof-
fered, 1701. OF. suffrir, soffrir.
sulp, v. tr., defile, pollute: imper.
sg. sulp, 1135; pp. 15, 550, 1130.
?Cf. Mod. Germ. dial, solpern,
to soil.
sum, adj., some, 628; absol.’ as pron.
in pl. : pl. summe, 388, 389, 1094 2 ,
1497. OE. sum.
sumquat, adv., a little, 627.
sumtyme, adv., once, formerly,
1152, 1157, 1257, 1260; sometime,
582.
sumwhyle, adv., formerly, 1496.
sun, n., son, 649: soun, 666, 1299;
pl. -ez, 1 12, 258, 298, 331, 35o;
-es, 1673; sunnes, 1221. OE.
sunu.
sunne, n., sun, 932, 1758 ; in phrase
‘under sunne,’ 549 : sonne, 932.
OE. sunne.
suppe, v. tr., sup, take ( liquid
food) : inf. J.08. OE. supan,
♦suppan.
surely, adv., 1643. Cf. OF. sur, adj.
sustnaunce, n., sustenaunce, 340.
AN. sustenaunce, OF. soste-
nance.
sute, n., sort, kind, in phrase ‘of
sute,’ to match, 1457. AN. siwte,
sute, OF. sieute.
swan, n. : pl. -ez, 58. OE. swan,
swap, n., blow, 222. Imitative; cf.
Mod. Germ, dial*, schwappen.
sware, adj., square, 319, 1386. OF.
esquarre.
sware, v. tr., answer: 3 pl. sware,
1415. ON. svara.
swarme, v. intr. : 3 sg. -z, 223. Cf.
OE. swierman, v., and swearm, n.
swayf, n., swinging blow, 1268.
ON. sveif.
swayn, n., servant: pl. -es, 1509.
LOE. swein<ON. sveinn.
swe, see swey.
sweande, part, adj., swelling, ‘flow-
ing,’ 420. See swey.
swelt, v. intr., perish, 108 ; tr.
destroy, 332 : inf. 108, 332. OE.
sweltan, ON. svelta.
swemande, part, adj., afflicting,
grievous, 563. Cf. OE. aswaeman.
swenge, v. intr., rush, run: 3 pl.
-n, 109; pret. 3 sg. 667. OE.
swengan.
swepe, v. intr., hasten: 3 pl. -n,
1509. OE. *swsepan; cf. ON.
sveipa.
swere, v. tr., swear: pret. 3 sg.
swer, 667. OE. swerian.
swete, adj., sweet, fair, 640, 788,
816, 1055, 1521, 1810: superl.
swettest, 1006, 1247. OE. swete.
swetnesse, n., sweetness, 525. OE.
swetness.
♦sweve, v. intr., whirl: pret. 3 pl.
222. ON. *sveifa.
Digitized by ^ooQle
196
Purity
swey, v. intr., come , walk , 788;
rush , 956: inf. 788; pret. 3 sg.
swe, 956. ON. sveigja, or perh.
OE. *swegan. See also sweande,
swol3e, v. tr., kill: pret. 3 sg.
1268. Based on OE. swelgan.
sworde, n., 1253, 1268. OE. sweord.
swyed, see sue.
swyer, n., squire: pi. -ez, 87. OF.
esquier.
swyfte, adj., 1509. OE. swift,
swyftly, adv., 87. OE. swiftllce.
swymme, v. intr., swim: pret. 3 pi.
388. OE. swimman.
swyn, pi. n., swine , 58. OE. swin.
swyppe, v. intr., slip away , escape:
pret. 3 pi. 1253. OE. swipian.
swyre, n., neck, 1744. OE. swira.
swyj?e, adv., quickly, swiftly / 1176,
*1211, 1509, 1619; greatly, 354,
987; very, 816, 1283, 1299. OE.
swiSe.
Syboym, prop, n., Sidon, 958. Lat.
Seboim (Vulg.), OF. Sidoyne.
syde, n., side, 78, 228, 320, 555, 1380,
1387, 1442; pi. outskirts, sur-
roundings, 956, 968: pi. -z, 144,
956; -s, 968. OE. side,
syence, n., skill, wisdom, 1454, 1599 ;
in pi. different kinds of knowl-
edge, 1289: pi. ciences, 1289.
OF. science.
sy3C, see sc.
sy3t, n., vision, sight, 29, 552, 595,
1722; appearance, 1406; glimpse,
610; view, 1548, and in phrase in
. . . sy3t, 1221, 1812; look,
glance, 672, 1005; (eye) sight,
(often pleonastic), 192, 576, 706,
1710: sy3te, 552; sy3tes, 1722.
OE. (ge)sihtS, gesiht.
syke, v. intr., sigh: pres. part,
sykande, 715. OE. slcan.
syle, v. intr., go, pass: pret. 3 sg.
13 1. ?Cf. Norw. and Sw. dial,
sila, to flow.
sylk, n., 790. OE. sioloc.
sylver, n., 1277, 1344. OE. siolfor.
sylveren, adj., silvery, 1406. OE.
seolfren, silfren.
syitibal, n., cymbal: pi. -es, 1415.
OF. cimbale.
symple, adj., free from guile, open,
746 ; humble, 120 : superl.
symplest, 120. OF. simple.
synful, adv., 15, 716, mi. OE. syn-
full.
synge, v. intr.: 3 pi. -n, 7; pret.
3 sg. songe, 1516; 3 pi. songen,
1763. OE. singan.
syngne, n., sign, 489: pi. -s, 1710.
OF. signe.
synk, v. intr., 398, etc.; tr., 1014:
inf. 398, 910 ; 3 sg. synkkes, 689 ;
synkkez, 1026; pret. 3 pi. sunk-
ken, 968; pres. part, synkande,
445 ; PP- sonkken, 1014. OE.
sincan.
synne, n., sin: 199* 550, 1018, 1135,
1797; pi. -z, 514. OE. synn.
synne, v. intr.: pp. 679. Cf. OE.
syngian.
syre, n., lord: 661, 1112; gen. ‘syre
soun,’ 1299; pi. -z, 799; -s, 1260.
OF. sire.
syt, n., sorrow, 1257 ; vexation,
566 : syte, 1257. ON. *syt, var.
of sut.
sytte, v. intr., sit, 91, etc. ; be,
550: inf., sitte, 91, 107; 3 sg. -z,
550 , 552 , 601, 773 , 796 ; -s, 1498,
1500; sittez, 479; 3 pi. sytte,
1257; pret. 3 sg. sat, 992; sete,
661, 1171; ‘3 pi. sete, 645, 1260;
seten, 829, 1482, 1763; pp. seten,
833. OE. sittan.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
197
sy)?e, n M time, period, 1169, 1453;
in pi. (denoting frequency),
1188, 1417, 1686: pi. syj?e, 1188,
1417; -z, 1686. OE. sltS.
sy)>en, adv., then, afterwards, 387,
557, 638, 799, 1292, 1635; next,
116, 175, 998; since, 262. OE.
sitStSan.
syj>en, con j „ since, seeing that, 684.
OE. sitStSan.
T.
tabarde, n., upper garment, 41. OF.
tabart.
table, n., 39, 132 2 , 832, 1419. OF.
table.
tabom, n., tabor, small drum: pi.
-es, 1414. Late Lat. tabornus;
cf. OF. tabor.
take, v. tr., seize, capture, 154, 836,
1192, 1232, 1297; catch, find, 763,
943; take, receive, 330, 1131 ; re-
gard, 735, 935 ; in idiomatic
phrases : t. counsayl, 1201 ; t. to
. . • ille, 735; t. leve, 401; t.
waye, 804; inf. 804, 836, 1232;
3 sg. -z, 401 ; -s, 1201 ; pret. 3 pi.
token, 935, 1297; tok, 1192; im-
per. sg. take, 330; pi. -z, 154;
tatz, 735; pp. taken, 943, 1131;
tan, 763. LOE. tacan, ON. taka.
tale, n., statement, words; story;
48 (see note), 587, 662, 676, 1437,
1557: talle, 48. OE. talu.
talke, n., discourse, 735.
talke, v. intr v talk, 132; say, 154:
3 sg. -z, 154; pret. 3 sg. talkede,
132. Frequentative formation on
OE. talian.
talle, see tale.
tame, adj.: 311,362. OE. tarn.
tan, see take.
tatz, see take.
tayt, n., pleasure, 889; sport, play,
*935 (see note). ON. teiti.
tayt, adj., lively, agreeable, 871.
ON. teitr.
Techal, prop, n., Tekel, 1727, 1733.
Vulg. Thecel.
teche, n., sin, vice, 943, 1230; sign,
1049 : pi* -s,, 1049. OF* teche.
teche, v. tr., show, 676; teach, 160,
1733- inf* (ail cases). OE.
taec(e)an.
tede, see ty 3 e.
tee, v. intr., proceed, go: 3 pi. -n,
9; subj. 3 sg. tee, 1262. OE.
teon.
telde, n., dwelling, house, 86 6. OE.
teld.
telde, v. tr., raise w. up: inf. 211 ;
3 sg. -s, *1808; pp. 1342. OE.
teldan.
telle, v. tr., tell: inf. 687, 1153;
imper. sg. telle, 1634; pp. tolde,
1623. OE. tellan.
teme, v. intr., conceive, 655 ; attach
oneself, turn to, 9: inf. *655;
3 pi. -n, 9. OE. tleman, teman.
temple, n., 1151, 1490: temmple, 9,
1262. OE. tempi, and OF.
temple.
tempre, v. tr., restrain, moderate:
imper. sg. tempre, 775. OE.
temprian.
temptande, part, adj., afflicting, dis-
tressing, 283. OF. tempter,
ten, adj., 763. OE. tien, ten.
tender, adj., 630. OF. tendre.
tene, adj., angry, 1808.
tene, n., anger, vexation, 283, 687,
1137; ? pains, trouble, 1232. OE.
teona.
tene, v. tr., afflict: 1 sg. 759. OE.
teonian.
Digitized by L^ooQle
198
Purity
tenfully, adv., sorrowfully , bitterly,
160. Cf. OE. teonful, adj.
tent, v. tr., heed, pay attention to,
935; attend, 676: inf. 676; pret.
3 pl. 935- ME. tent, n., aphetic
from OF. attent; cf. OF. at-
tendre.
tere, v. tr., tear: pp. torne, 1234.
OE. ter an.
terme, n., period, 239, 568; date,
appointed time, 1393; word, ex-
pression, 1 733. OF. terme.
terne, n., lake, 1041* ON. *tarnu.
tej>e, see toJ>.
tevel, v. intr., strive, struggle: pret.
3 pl. 1189. Etym. obscure.
Thanes, prop, n., Thamanin, 448
(see note). OF. Thanez (Man-
deville).
the, v., grow: pret. 3 pl. ?thy3e,
1687 (see note). OE. J>eon.
the, see )>ou.
then, see )>en.
throne, n. : 1112, 1396: trone, 21 1,
1794. OF- trone, throne,
thus, see >us.
thy3e, see the, v.
tid, see tyd.
to, adv., to, 162, 662, 1551. OE. to.
to, prep., 8, 9, 16, 29, etc.; up to,
383, 397; down to, 798; till,
1032; for, 204, 309, 340, 808; of,
1391; toward, 11 72, 1230; in re-
spect to, 174, 315, 844, 1659; ac-
cording to, ?59, 1604; after
adjectives, 49, 212, 261, 608, 790,
1139, 1162; bef. infin. (and ge-
rund), 45, 53, 54, 64, etc.; for
to, 91, 336, 373, 402, etc. ; fro . . .
to, 132, 227, 288 ; so . . . to, 904 ;
in phrases : to de)>e, 1266 ; to )>e
fulle, 120; to grounde, 445; to
non ille, 735; to peces, 1348.
OE. to.
to, adv., too, 22, 182, 861, 1376. OE.
to.
to, n., toe: pl. -s, 1691. OE. ta.
tocleve, v. intr., be cleft asunder:
3 sg. -s, 1806. OE. tocleofan.
togeder, adv*, together: 160, 307,
399, 441, 702, 783, 949, 1191, 1284,
1692; togedere, 1290. OE. to-
gaedere.
t03e, adj., tough, 63a OE. toh.
token, n. : pl. -es, 1049. OE. tacen.
token, v. tr., signify, denote: pret.
3 ph x 557- OE. tacnian.
token, see take.
tokerve, v. tr., cut up, 1250 ; divide,
1700: inf. 1700; pret. 3 pl. to-
corven, 1250. OE. toceorfan.
tolke, n., man, 498, 757, 889: tolk,
687; pl. tulkkes, 1189, 1262;
tulkes, 1623. ON. tulkr.
Tolowse, prop, n., 1108. OF.
Tolouse.
tom, n., time, opportunity, 1153.
ON. tom.
tomarred, part, adj., ruined, 1114.
tonge, n., 1524. OE. tunge.
tool, n., 1342: pl. toles, 1108. OE.
tol.
topace, n., topaz, 1469. OF. topace.
torende, v. intr., burst apart: pret.
3 sg. torent, 368. OE. torendan.
torive, v. tr., cleave, asunder: pret.
3 sg. torof, 964. Cf. ON. rifa.
Torkye, prop, n., Turkey, 1232.
OF. Turquie.
tormenttor, n. : pl. -ez, 154. OF.
tormentour.
torne, n., deed: pl. -z, 192. AN.
tourn, OF. tor, tour,
torne, v. intr., turn around, 9 76;
go, proceed, 64; t. to hele, be-
come sound, be cured, 1099: inf.
976; 1 sg. *turne (MS. tne), 64;
pret. 3 sg. 1099. OE. turnian.
-Bigitrzechby ^ooQle
Glossary
199
torres, see tour.
tote, n., ? elbow (see note) : pi. -z,
4i.
totome, part, adj., torn , ragged , 33,
41. OE. toteran.
toJ>, n., tooth: pi. tej>e, 16a OE.
totS.
toun, n., town, city : 64, 775, 907,
990, 1234, 1778; toune, 721, 763;
pi. -ez, 751. OE. tun.
tour, n., tower, 1189, 1383; applied
to heaven (cf. Pearl 965), 216;
tower-shaped cumulus, 951 : pi.
-es, 1189, 1383; torres, 951. OE.
torr, LOE. tur ; OF. tor, tour.
tow, see two.
towalten, v. intr., burst forth, over-
flow: pret. 3 pi. towalten, 428.
See walte.
toward, prep., 672, 1005, 1373 :
towarde, 679, 778. OE. toweard.
towche, v. tr., touch, 283, 1091, 1099,
1657; taste, 245; reach, 1393;
tell, 1437 : inf. 1091 ; pret. 3 sg.
245, 283, 1099, 1657; pp. 1393,
1437. OF. toucher.
tramountayne, n., pole-star, 21 1.
OF. tramontaine.
trasch, n., frag: pi. -ez, 40 (see
note). Cf. Sw. trasa, rag .
traw, v. tr., believe, 587, 655, 662;
hope, 388 ; intr. w. upon, believe,
1049; think, 1335, and in phrase
‘I trawe,* 1686, 1803: inf. 655;
trow, 1049; 1 sg. trawe, 1686;
trowe, 1803; pret. 3 sg. trawed
1335; 3 pl- 388; pres. part, traw-
ande, 662; imper. sg. traue, 587.
OE. treow(i)an.
trawj>e, n., faithfulness, loyalty,
236; in phrase ‘by hys (hir)
trawj>e,* 63, 667 ; truth, 1490,
1604, 1703, 1736; righteousness.
723; trauj>e, 723, 1490. OE.
treowtS.
trayled, part, adj., decorated with a
trailing pattern, 1473. NF.
trailler.
traysoun, n., treason, 187. AN.
treysoun, OF. traison.
tray tor, n. : pl. -es, 1041. OF.
traitor, acc. of traitre.
trayj?ely, adv., ? quickly, 907 :
tray)>ly, 1137. Etym. unknown,
tre, n., tree, 622, 1342: pl. -s, 310,
1041. OE. treo(w).
tresor 1 , n., treasure, 866. OF.
tresor.
tresor*, n., treasurer, 1437. OF.
tresor = tresorer (Godefroy,
date 1360).
tresorye, n., treasury, 1317. OF.
tresorie.
trespas, v. intr., transgress, sin:
pres. subj. 3 sg. trespas, 48; pp.
trespast, 1230. OF. trespasser,
treste, n., trestle, support for boards
which formed table: pl. -s, 832.
OF. treste, orig. trestre.
trichcherye, n., treachery, 187. OF.
tricherie.
troched, adj., provided with pin-
nacles, 1383 (see note),
tron, see tryne.
trone, see throne,
trot, n., 976. OF. trot,
trow, see traw.
trumpe, n., trumpet: pl. -n, 1402.
OF. trumpe.
trusse, v. tr., stow away: pret. 3 sg.
1317. OF. trusser.
trwe, adj., true, faithful, virtuous,
68 2, 759, 1189, 1623: as noun,
702; right, 1168: true, 702. OE.
treowe.
trwly, adv., faithfully, 149a OE.
treowllce.
Digitized by L^ooQle
200
Purity
tryed, part, adj., chosen , 1317. OF.
trier.
tryfled, part, adj., ornamented with
trefoils , 1473. Cf. OF. trefle, tri-
foil, n.
tryne, v. intr., go, ste- .* pret. 3 sg.
tron, 132; pres. pzrt. trynande,
976. Cf. OSw. trina.
trysty, adj., faithful, 763. Cf. ME.
trust, v., ON. treysta (see
NED.).
tuch, n., tdeed, 48 (see note).
OF. touche.
tulk(k)es, see tolke.
tulke, v. intr., sound: pret. 3 pi.
tulket, 1414. PON. tulka (see
note).
tult, see tylt.
tuyred, pp. Perror for tyrved, over-
turned, destroyed, 1234. (See
NED. s. tirve, v. 3 ). POE. *tierf-
ian.
twenty, adj., 1383; n. 757, 759- OE.
twentig.
twentyfolde, adv., twenty times,
1691. OE. twentigfeald.
tweyne, adj., two, 674, 782, 7 88; n.
1749. OE. twegen, masc.
two, adj., 155, 702, 814, 866, 934, 977,
996, 1192; noun, 871, 1573: tow,
866. OE. twa, fem., and tu, neut.
See twayne;
twyne, v. intr., twine: pres. part,
twynande, 1691. Cf. OE. twin,
n., and WFris. twine, v.
twynne, n„, in phrases : on twynne,
1047, in two; in twynne, 966,
apart. OE. (ge)twinn.
twynne, v. intr., part: inf. 402.
tyd, adv., quickly, 901 ; a(l)s (also)
tyd, as soon as possible, at once,
immediately ; 64, 1099, 1213: tid,
901. ON. tltt neut. of tl8r,
tyde, n., time, 1393. OE. tid.
ty3e, v. refl., tie, bind; 702, , pp. as
adj., joined together, 1634 (see
note) : pp. ty3ed, 702; tede,
1634. OE. tlgan, *tegan.
ty3t\ v. refl., ? betake oneself: pret.
3 sg. ty3t, 889. OE. tyhtan.
ty3t 3 , v. tr., set, give, 1153; intr.,
endeavor, succeed, 1108: inf.
1108, 1153. Etym. obscure,
tykle, adj., uncertain, 655. ?Cf.
OE. tinclian, tickle.
tylle, prep, (always postpositive),
to, 882, 1064 1174, 1752. ON.
til.
tyl, conj.: until, 484, 498, 548,
831, etc. (10 times) ; til, 906,
1192, 1356, i$44, 1657, 1699.
tylt, v. tr., throw, push, 832, 1213:
pret. 3 pi. tult, 1213 ; pp. tylt, 832.
OE. *tyltan.
tymbre, n., timbrel, tambourine :
pi. -s, 1414. OF. timbre,
tyme, n., time: 106, 660, 781, 1149,
1657, 1769. OE. tuna.
tyne 1 , v. tr., enclose: pret. 3 sg. 498.
OE. tynan.
tyne 2 , v. tr., lose, 216; destroy,
ruin, 77 5, 907: inf. 907; pres.
2 sg. -z, 775; pret. 3 sg. tynt,
216. ON. tyna.
tyraunt, n., general term of abuse,
vile sinner, villain: pi. -ez, 943.
OF. tyrant.
tyrauntyre, n., tyranny, 187. Cf.
OF. tirannerie.
tyrve, v. tr., strip, w. of: inf. 630.
Etym. uncertain.
ty)>e, adj., tenth, 216. OE. teogoSa,
tegoSa.
ty>yng, n., tidings, information:
498, 1557; pl. -ez, 458. LOE.
tldung; ON. tlCendi, pl.
Digitized by L^ooQle
Glossary
201
tyxte, n., text, 1634. NF. tyxte,
OF. texte.
P.
pa3, conj., though, 48, 72, 103, 217,
etc. OE. peah.
pare, see per.
pat, conj., that, 53, 126, 195, 198,
etc.; so that, 72, 178, 395, 433,.
etc.; so . . . pat, 152, 269,
280, 590; in order that, 104, 173,
914, 1811, 1812; after ‘so/ 83;
after various conjs., bot pat, if
not, 881; if pat, 759; when pat,
961, 1537 : that, 433. OE. paet.
pat, dem. pron., that, 29, 32, 45, 51,
etc.; absol., 251, 309, 600, 796,
1144; w. on, other, 149, 235, 299,
>65 ; pl. Po, 97 , 490 , 553 , 635, etc. ;
absol, 939, 1243; pose, 509, 842,
848, 851, etc ; w. oper, 332, 340;
absol. 261, 273, 1810; (po, 24
times; pose, 17 times); bi pat,
by that time, 397, 967, 1211, 1687;
with pat, thereupon, 671 ; for
pat, 279. OE. paet. See also pe,
adv.
pat, rel. pron., indecl., that, who,
which, 2, 5, 6, 7, etc. ; that which,
652, 898, 1098, 1517; those that,
286, 376 ; w. redundant pers.
pron., {who, which), 274, 448,
926; pat . . . his, whose, 32,
1109. OE. paet, dem.
payres, poss. pron., see her, poss.
pron., their . Cf. ON. gen. pi.
peira.
pe, adv., the, w. comp., 296. OE.
pe, instr. of paet.
peder, see pider.
pede, n., vessel, properly brewer's
strainer, 1717. Etym. uncertain,
pefte, n., theft, 183. OE. pleftS,
peofC.
pen, conj., than, 76, 168, 674, 1100,
1128, 1132, 1137, 1138, 1155, 1196,
1303, 1704: penne, 1108. OE.
paenne, panne.
penk(kez), see pynke . 1
penne, adv., then, at that time ;
next, besides, 53, etc. ; unem-
phatic introductory part., then,
now, 178, 926, 929; parenthetical
or resumptive, 176, 349, 1054,
1065,1143; introducing apodosis,
15, 39, 1067; correl. w. when,
529, 1401 ; as n. preceded by
prep., by penne, 989; er penne,
1088, 1312, 1339; er penne, conj.,
before, 1670: penne, 77, 93, 169,
240, etc. (74 times) ; pen, 15,
39, 53, 85, etc. (27 times) ; penn,
344, 349, 929, 1333, thenne (th
apparently used as capital for p),
73 , 109, 361, 1357. OE. paenne,
panne.
per, adv., there, 11, 70, 126* 239, etc.;
introducing vb., 100, 250, 263,
373, etc. ; on that occasion, then,
203, 216, 1319: as conj., where,
158, 238, 379, 412, etc.; wherever,
1 1 17; when, 1004; per as, where,
when, 24, 769 : pere, 70, 126, 564,
593, etc. ( 12 times, per, 54
times) ; pare, 1076. OE. paer,
per.
peraboute, adv., thereabout, 1796.
OE. paerabutan.
perafter, adv., afterwards: 93, 157,
1089, 1135, 1220, 1635, 1763, 1766.
OE. paeraefter.
peratte, adv., thereat, 1554. OE.
paeraet.
perby, adv., beside or near that,
near by, 1034: perbi, 1404. OE.
paerbi.
perbysyde, adv., near there, 6 73.
Digitized by ^ooQle
202
Purity
berinne, adv., therein , in it: 311,
321, 35i, 352, 372, 498, 527, 698,
800, 1029, 1072, 1264, 1667, 1715,
1800; berin* 993. 0E. berinne,
baerin.
b«rof, adv., thereof, of it, 30 6, 604,
1499, 1507, 1752; because of
that, 972. OE. >aerof.
J?eron, adv., thereon, 244, 386, 388,
507, 635, 1025, 1026, 1028, 1482,
1719. OE. J>aeron.
Reroute, adv,, without, outside, out
of that place, 44, 109, 220, 453,
495, 502, 807, 881, 1184, 1196.
OE. )>serut(e).
berover, adv., above, 1407. OE.
baerofer.
berto, adv., thither, 1394; for that
purpose, 701. OE. J>aerto.
bertylle, adv., thither, 1509. See
tylle.
berupone, adv., thereon, 1665.
J>erve, adj., unleavened, unsoured,
635. OE. J?eorf.
berwyth, adv., thereat, thereupon,
138, 528, 1501; with that {them),
1406. OE. }>aerwi)>.
J?ese, see Jns.
bester, n., darkness, 1775. OE.
beostru.
J>ewe, n., thief: pi. -s, 1142. OE.
beof.
J>ewe, n., ordinance, 544; custom,
manner of action, 203; gracious
deed, courtesy, ?755, 1436: pi.
-z, 203, 544. 7SS ; -s. 1436. OE.
|>eaw.
bewed, adj., gracious, 733.
Yh see ]>y.
bider, adv., thither, 45, 61, 1366,
1478; beder, 64, 461,, 1775. OE.
bider.
>ikke, adj., thick, dense, 220 , 222;
as n. 1687 (see note ) ; frequent,
occurring in quick succession,
952 : >ik, 952, 1687. ON. J>ylckr ;
cf. OE. )>icce.
bikke, adv., thickly, closely, 504,
953; fast, 1416: l>ykke, 504;
comp. )>iker, tvery thickly, 1384.
bink(ez), see ]>yng.
>irle, v„ pierce: pret. 3 sg. 952.
OE. }>yrlian.
bis, dem. pron., this, 65, 106, 140, 143,
etc.; absol. 42, 229, 1013, 1049,
I75i: J>ys, i75i; 8©n. sg. ]>yse,
1802 : pi. >ise, 84, 279, 596, etc.
(15 times) ; )>yse, 105, 207, 210,
etc. (14 times); J>ese, 1710; J>is,
822. OE. J>is, neut.
bole, v. tr., suffer: inf. 190. OE.
)>olian.
}>03t, n., thought, 516. OE. J>oht.
>03t, see Jjynke 1 and >ynke.*
bonkke, v. tr., thank: 3 sg. -s, 745.
OE. bancian, J>oncian.
>or, see J>cr.
>or3, see Jmr3.
J?orp, n., hamlet, town: pi. -es, 1178.
OE. brop, )>orp.
bose, see \>at.
}>ou, per. pron., thou: J>ou (abbrev.
>u), 95, 140, 141, 142, etc.; >ow,
145, 733, 742, 93o; >o, 173; be
(dat. or acc.), 327, 330, 349, 545,
etc.; refl., 169, 333, 921, 1067,
etc.; plur. 3e, 352, 527, 800, 819,
etc.; yow (dat. or acc.), 357,
523, 617, 799, etc.; refl. 352, 522;
ethical dat. 904. OE. bn.
bowsand, n., thousand: pi. -ez, 220.
OK busend.
brad, pp., ? afflicted, punished, 751.
OE. bread, pp. of brean.
Digitized by
Google
Glossary
203
)>ral, n., serf , fellow , 135. OE.
)>rael.
J>rawen, -ez, see J>rowe, v., and
J?rowen, part. adj.
J>re, adj., three, 298*, 315, 350 s , 625,
635, 993, 1728. OE. >reo.
l>refte, adj., unleavened , 819 (see
note). See also j?erve.
J>renge, see >rynge.
J>rep, n., contradiction, 350. Cf. OE.
I’reapian, rebuke .
)>repyng, vbl. n., strife, quarreling,
183.
)>rete, v.. tr., urge on, 937 ; foretell
threateningly, 680, 1728 : 3 sg. -s,
680, 1728 ; pret. 3 pi. J>ratten* 937-
OE. )>reatian.
)>retty, adj., thirty , 751 ; n. 317, 754:
J?rette, 317. OE. >rltig, J>rittig.
J>revenest, see >ryven.
|>ro, n., anger, 754. ON. j>ra, neut.
J>ro\ adv., thoroughly, 1805. OE.
}>urh.
J>ro*, adv., violently, 220; quickly,
*590 (see note). ON. >rar, adj.
broble, v. intr., crowd, press: pret.
3 pi. 879; pres. part. }>rublande,
504 (see note).
)>roly, adv., violently, fiercely, 180,
504. See j>ro, adv. a
J?rong, n., throng, crowd, 135, 754:
J>ronge, 504. Cf. OE. ge>rang.
)>rong(en), see J>rynge.
J>rote, n., throat: 180, 1569. OE.
|>rote.
)>rowe, v. tr., throw, 635, 1384,
f cover; turn, incline, 516; intr.,
rush, 590; fall w. violence, be
flung, 220 ; crowd, press, 879
(cf. )>rowen, part, adj., and
note on 504) : 3 sg. J>rawez, 590;
pret 3 sg. j>rwe, 635, 879; 3 pi.
J>rwen, 220; pp. )>rowen, 1384,
J>rawen, 516. OE. J>rawan. See
also )>rowen, part. adj.
J>rowen, part, adj., crowded, close,
504 (see note) : >rawen, 1775.
See J>rowe.
J>rwe(n), see J>rowe.
J>ryche, v. tr., crowd: pp. J>ry3t,
135. OE. J>rycc(e)an. See also
\>ryst, Part. adj.
J>ryd, adj., third, 1639; n.: J>ryd,
69, 249, 300; >rydde, 1571, 1573,
1748. OE. J>ridda.
J>ryez, adv., thrice, 429. Cf. OE.
)?rlwa.
}?ryftyly, adv., in a becoming man-
ner, 635. See )>ryve.
)>ry3t, part, adj., ? crowded, thick,
1687 (see note). See >ryche.
)>rynge, v. intr., press, crowd
around , 879, 930 , 1639; Press on,
*7751 rush, 180: 3 sg. -z, 180;
-s, 1639; pres. subj. 3 sg. >renge,
930; pret. 3 pi. brongen, 1775;
j?rong, 879. OE. J?ringan.
)>rynne, adj., three, 606, 1805; absol.
645 J in >rynne, 1727. LOE.
}>rinna<ON. }>rinnr.
bryvande, part, adj., worthy, 751.
}>ryve, v. intr., thrive, flourish:
inf. 249. ON. )?riva-sk. See
also )>ryven, J>ryvande.
J?ryven, part, adj., grown up, 298;
noble, honorable, 1571, 1639:
superl. )>ryvenest, 1639 1 )>re-
venest, 1571.
funder- j?rast, n., thunderbolt , 952.
OE. J>unor; cf. OE. >raestan, to
force ,
\>ur$, prep., through, 1204, 1761 ;
throughout, 1361, 1362 ; by means
of, 73 1, 1 1 15, 1607; because of,
in consequence of, 236, 241, 1325,
1498: >or3, 1761. OE. Jrnrh.
Digitized by L^ooQle
204
Purity
>ur30Ut, prep., throughout , 1559.
OE. J>urhut.
>us, adv., thus , 26, 47, 7 h 314, 681,
1109, 1349, 1685, 1733, 1797, 1805:
thus, 161. OE. pus,
)>y, poss. pron., 165, 169, 171, etc.
(16 times) ; pi, 95, 148, 348, etc.
(9 times); J>yn, 143, 172, 175,
etc.; J>yn one, 923 (see note).
OE. pin.
)>yng, n., thing, matter, 1600: pi.
-es, 1281, 1627; fringes, 5, 1355;
frynk, 819; frink, 1359; frinkez,
916. OE. fring.
frynke 1 , v. tr., think, conceive, 590;
intend, purpose, 304, 711, 1729;
determine, 138; consider, 749;
intr. w. on, remember, bear in
mind, 819: 1 sg. frenk, 304, 71 1,
1729; 3 sg. frynkez, 749; pret.
3 sg. J>03t, 138; imper. pi. frenk-
kez, 819; pp. J>03t, 590. OE.
frenc(e)an.
frynke*, v. imper s., seems: pres,
subj. 3 sg. frynk, 744; pret. 3 sg.
J>03t, 562, 1504. OE. frync(e)an.
fryse, see fris,
)>yself, see self.
U.
uche, adj., each, 31, 124, 333, 334,
etc.; with indef. art. *uch(e) a/
78, 196, 368, 370, etc. (23 times) ;
in phrase uch on(e), 71, 267, 394,
497, etc. : uche, 78, 370, 384, etc.
(35 times) ; uch, 31, 124, 196,
etc. (30 times; so always when
fol. by on) ; uuche 378. OE.
(Merc.) ylc.
ugly, adj., horrible, frightful:
superl. uglokest, 892. ON.
uggligr.
U3ten, n., early morning, 893. OE.
uhta.
umbe, prep., about, around, 879,
1569, 1687, 1689, 1744. OE. ymbe.
umbe, adv., 1384, 1474. OE. ymbe.
umbebrayde, v. tr., accost: pret.
3 sg. umbebrayde, 1622. Cf. OE.
bregdan.
umbegrouen, part, adj., overgrown,
covered, 488.
umbekest, v. tr., circle about: 3 sg.
-ez, 478.
umbely3e, v. tr., surround, 836.
OE. ymblicgan.
umbesweyed, part, adj., encircled,
1380.
umbefror, adv., thereabout, 1384.
umbewalt, v. tr., surround: pret.
3 sg. umbewalt, 1181.
umbre, n., shade, 524 (see note).
AN. umbre, OF. ombre,
unblyfre, adj., dismal, 1017. OE.
unbllSe.
unbrosten, part, adj., unbroken, not
burst, 365. See berste.
uncheryst, adj., uncared for, 1125.
unclannes, n., uncleanness, impur-
ity, 1800, 1806: unclannesse, 30.
OE. unclaenness.
unclene, adj., unclean, evil, 550, 710,
1144, 1713. OE. unclaene.
unclose, v. tr., disclose, 26 : unlock,
1438: 3 sg. -z, 26; -s, 1438.
uncou]?e, adj., foreign, strange, 414:
uncowJ>e, 1600, 1722. OE. uncutS.
under, prep., under, beneath, 226,
483, 602, 605, 616, 626, 1246, 1255,
1459, 1695; in phrases: under
god, 1077, under hach, 409; un-
der sunne, 549. OE. under,
undergo, v. tr., understand, per-
ceive: pret. 3 sg. under3ede, 796
(see note).
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
under3ede, see undergo.
undo, v. tr., destroy: pret. 3 sg.
undyd, 562. OE. undon.
unfayre, adj., unseemly , disgraceful,
1801.
unfolde, y. tr., make known, dis-
close, 1563; intr., unfold, open
up, 962: pret. 3 sg. 962; imper.
sg. unfolde, 1563. OE. un-
fealdan, -faldan.
unfre, adj., base, shameful, 1129.
ungarnyst, part. adj M not properly
adorned or dressed, 137.
ungoderly, adj., vile, base, 145, 1092.
? Extension of ME. ungodly (see
note).
unhap, n., misfortune, 143, 1150;
calamity, 892. Cf. ON. uhapp.
unhappen, adj., wicked, vile, 573.
Cf. ON. heppinn.
unhaspe, v. tr., reveal: inf. 688.
See haspe.
unhole, adv., unsoundly, insanely,
1682. Cf. OE. unhal, adj.
unhonest, n., impure, vile, 579.
unhyle, v. tr., uncover: 2 sg. -s,
1628; pp. unhuled, 451. Cf. OE.
hulu, husk.
unknawen, adj., unknown, 1679.
unkyndely, adv., ungratefully, 208.
unmard, adj., undefiled , virgin, 867.
unnevened, adj., unmentioned, i. e.,
unthought of, impossible, 727.
See neven.
unry3t, n., wrong, 1142. OE.
unriht.
♦unsavere, adj., disagreeable, 822.
unsmyten, adj., unharmed, 732.
unsounde, adj., corrupt, wicked,
575 .
unsoundely, adv., harshly, fatally,
201.
205
unstered, adj., undirected, 706. Cf.
OE. steoran.
unswol3ed, adj., unharmed, 1253.
See swol3e.
unto, prep., 9, 1235. Cf. OS. unto,
untrwe, adj., untrue, false, 184, 456,
587, 1161.
untwyne, v. tr., f separate: 2 sg. -z,
757 .
un)>ewe, n., fault, vice: pi. -z, 190.
OE. un)>eaw.
un)>onk, n., harm, 183. OE. unj>anc.
un)>ryvandely, adv., unworthily,
poorly, 135.
un>ryfte, n., wickedness, folly, 516,
1728.
unj?ryftyly, adv., basely, vilely, 267.
unwaschen, adj., unwashed, 34.
unwelcum, adj., 49.
unwor}>elych, adj., unworthy,
shameful, 305.
up, adv., 2, 2 1 1, 323, 439, 460, 506,
671, 897, 963, 1179, 1263, 1480,
1808; aroused, 834; up (from
bed), 1001: upe, 1010; uppe,
1421. OE. up.
upbrayde, v. tr., raise: 3 pi. -z,
848. Cf. OE. bregdan.
upcaste, v. tr., proclaim: pp. up-
caste, 1574.
upf olden, part, adj., folded, 643.
uplyfte, part, adj., uplifted, 987.
upon, prep., upon, on, 416, 719, 925,
1451, etc.; expressing manner,
902, 912, upon . . . wyse, 268,
1728, 1805 ; in phrases : upon
bench, 1395; upon borde, 470;
upon dayez, 578 ; upon dece,
1399; upon ende, finally, 1329;
upon folde, 251, etc.; upon fote,
88; upon grounde, 1363; upon
haste, 902; upon hy3t, 458; upon
launde, 1207; upon lofte, 206;
Digitized by ^ooQle
206
Purity
upon longe, at length , 1 193 ; upon
molde, 558; upon soyle, 1387;
upon throne, 1112; upon urj>e,
326; upon U3ten, 893. Adv. 141,
1049, 1276, 1427. OE. upon,
upon, adj., open , 318, 453, 501, 882.
OE. open.
uprere, v. tr., rear up: pret. 3 sg.
uprerde, 561.
upryse, v. intr., arise : inf. 896.
upwafte, v. intr v rise up: pret. 3 pi.
upwafte, 949.
urnment, see omement.
urj>e, see erj>e.
urj>ly, adj., earthly, 35. OE. eor>lic.
usage, n., custom, 710. OF. usage,
use, v. tr., use, 11; practise, 202,
251, 1173, 1359; spend, 295, refl.
(of sexual intercourse), 267:
inf. 1359; 3 sg. -z, 295; 3 pi. -n,
11 ; pret. 3 sg. 251, 1173; 3 pi.
267; pp. 202. OF. user,
usle, n., ashes, 747 : pi. usellez, 101a
OE. ysel.
utter, adv., outside, without, 42, 927.
OE. utor, uttor.
utwyth, adv., outwardly, 14.
V.
vale, n., 673. OF. val.
vanysche, v. intr.: pret. 3 sg. van-
ist, 1548. Aphetic from OF.
evaniss-, from evanir.
vanyte, n., 1713. OF. vanite.
vayle, v., be of service, 1151; be
worth, 1311: pret. 3 pi. 1151,
1131. OF. vaill-, fr. valoir.
♦vayneglorie, n., 1358. OF. vayne-
glorie.
vengaunce, n., *247, 744, 1013. OF.
vengeance.
venge, v. intr., take vengeance: inf.
♦wenge, 201 ; pret. 3 sg. 199, 559.
OF. venger.
venkquysche, v. tr., vanquish,
destroy: pret. 3 sg. venkquyst,
544; pp. venkkyst, 1071. OF.
vainquiss-, from vainquir.
venym, n., evil, 574. OF. venim.
verayly, adv., verily, truly, 664,
1548. Cf. OF. verai, adj.
vergynyte, n., 1071. OF. virginite.
vertuous, adj., precious, 1280. OF.
vertuous.
vessel, n v as collective, 1311, 1429,
1451, 1791: vessayl, 1791; pi.
vesselles, 1151, 1315; vessayles,
1713. OF. vessel.
vesselment, coll, n., vessels: 1280,
1288. OF. vesselement.
vesture, n. : * pi. -s, 1288. OF.
vesture.
vice, n., 199. OF. vice,
vilte, n., vileness, 199. OF. vilte.
violent, adj., 1013. OF. violent,
vouche, v. intr., resolve: inf. 1358.
OF. voucher.
voyde, v. tr., w. away, do away
with, 744: lay waste, 1013; intr.,
disappear, 1548: inf. 744; pret.
3 sg. 1013, 1548. OF. voider,
vycios, adj., vicious, 574. OF.
vicious.
vyl, adj., vile, 744. OF. vil.
vylanye, n., sin, shameful wicked-
ness, 544, 574: vylaynye, 863.
OF. vilanie.
vyle, v. refl., defile: 3 pi. -n, 863.
OF. viler.
vyole, n., vial, small vessel: pi. -s,
1280. Southern form of ME.
fiole (OF. fiole) .
vyolence, n., 1071. OF. violence.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
207
W.
wach, n., state of wakefulness ,
1003; guard , sentry, 1205:
wache, 1003. OE. waecce.
waft, see weve.
wage, v. tr., wave : pp. 1484. Cf.
Sw. vagga.
wake, v. tr., guard, watch: pret.
3 pi. 85. OE. wacian.
waken, v. tr., arouse, awaken ;
rouse up, raise: inf. 323; wakan,
948; pret. 3 sg. wakened, 437,
933; wakned, 1166, 1175; pp.
wakned, 891. OE. wsecnan.
wakker, see wok, adj.
wale, adj., choice, 1716; noble, 1734.
Cf. ON. val„ choice.
wale, v. tr M choose, 921 ; t adjudge,
1734: imper. sg. wale, 921; pp.
wait, 1734. Cf. ON. val, choice;
velja, choose.
walk, v. intr.: inf. 1674; 3 pi. -ez,
503. OE. wealcan.
walkyrie, n., witch, sorceress: pi.
-s, 1577. OE. waelcyrie.
walle, n. : 1381, 1390; pi. -s, 1181,
1190, 1776. OE. weall, wall,
wait, see wale.
walte, v. intr., burst forth, over -
flow (Vulg. rupti sunt), 364;
? burst, 501 ; bubble forth, 1037 :
3 sg. -z, 1037; -s, 364; pret.
3 sg. wait, 501. Cf. ONth.
wseltan, roll, appar. infl. in mean-
ing by OE. weallan, bubble forth.
waiter, v. intr., roll; inf. 1027 ;
pret. 3 sg. 415. Frequentative
from OE. waeltan.
wan, see wynne.
wappe, v. tr., w. upon, fling open:
pret. 3 pi. 882. ?ON. vappa.
war, adj., watchful, cautious, 292,
589; aware, 606, 970; in phrase
‘be by hem war/ take warn-
ing by them, 712. OE. (ge)waer.
war, v. intr., only imper. phrase,
‘war }>e/ see to it, be careful,
beware: 165, 545, 1133, 1143.
OE. warian.
warisch, v. tr., protect: inf. 921.
NF. wariss-, from warir, OF.
guarir.
warlase, n., wizard: pi. -s, 1560.
OE. waerloga.
warme, v. tr. : pret. 3 sg. 1420. OE.
wearmian.
wamyng, n., 1504. OE. wearnung.
warp, v. tr., hurl, 444; utter, 152,
213; intr. rush, 284: inf. 152;
pret. 3 sg. warp, 213 ; werp, 284,
3 pi. warpen, 444. ON. varpa.
wary, v. tr., curse, condemn: inf.
513. OE. wiergan, waergan.
waryed, part, adj., cursed, 1716.
wasch, v. tr., wash, 323, etc.; intr.
1138: inf. 323, 355 ; wasche, 548,
802; imper. sg. wasch, 1127; pp.
waschen, 831, 1133, 1138; wasch-
ene, 618. OE. wascan.
wassayl, inter j. e your health !*
1508. AN. wassail,
wast, v. tr., destroy, 326, 431, 1178;
waste, 1489: inf. 326, 1489;
pret. 3 sg. wast, 1178; pp. wasted,
431. NF. waster, OF. guaster.
wastume, n., wilderness, 1674.
Variant of ME. wastine from
NF. wastine.
water, n., water, flood , 323, 371, 375,
387, 422, 428, 437, 472, 496, 548,
617, 1027, 1037, 1133; stream,
1380, 1776: pi. watterez, 437,
496; watteres, 1776; wateres,
1380. OE. waeter.
wawe, n., wave: pi. -z, 382; wajez,
404. ON. vagr.
Digitized by ^ooQle
20 $
Purity
wax, n., 1487. OE. weax.
wax, v. intr., increase, 375, 397, 521 ;
grow, become, 204, 1123, 1198;
befall, 235: pres. subj. 3 sg.
wax, 1123; pret. 3 sg. wex, 204,
235; wax, 375; 3 pi. wexen,
1198; waxed, 397; imper. pi.
waxez, 521. OE. weaxan.
waxloke, n., waxen lump: pi. -s,
1037. ?OE. locc.
way, n. : 777 ; on }>e waye, 606 ; by
)>e way, 974 : waye, 804 : pi.
wayez, 282, 767. OE. weg.
wayferande, part, adj., wayfaring,
79. OE. weg ferende.
waykne, v. intr., weaken: pret.
3 sg. 1422. Cf. ON. veikr, weak .
wayne, v. tr., fgive, ? obtain, 1616;
send, 1504; refl. recover, 1701:
inf. 1616; pret. 3 sg. 1504, 1701.
For etym., see note on 1616.
wayte, v. intr., be careful, 292 :
look, 1423; tr. search, 99; ex-
amine, 1552: 3 sg. -z, 1423;
imper. pi. -z, 99. NF. waiter,
OF. gaiter.
wedde, v. tr. : inf. 934; pp. 69.
OE. weddian.
wedded, part, adj., 330.
wede, n., dress, 793; in pi. clothes,
garments, -z, 20, 117, 140, 142,
165, 169, 217, 1353; -s, 1208, 1582.
OE. waede, wede.
wede, v., go mad: pret. 3 sg. wed,
1585. OE. wedan.
weder, n., storm, wind ; air; 444,
475, 847, 948 ; weather, 1760 : pi.
-ez, 948. OE. weder.
we3e, v. tr., bear, bring, 1420, 1508;
w. upon, bear heavily upon, op-
press, 719- inf. weye, 719; pret.
3 pi. 1420; imper. sg. we3e, 1508.
OE. wegan.
we3t, n. : pi. -es, scales, balance,
1734* Cf. OE. gewiht.
wckked, see wykked.
wel, adv., well, 113, 165, 320, 322,
etc.; very in ‘wel ny3e/ 704:
comp, better, 234: superl. best
275, 539, 913, 1060. OE. wel.
welawynnely, adv., very joyfully,
831. Cf. OE. wynn, joy.
welcom, adj.* 813. Cf. OE. wil-
cuma, n.
welde, v. tr., rule, govern, 17, 195,
644, 1646, 1664; use, possess,
705, 835, 1351 : inf. 705, 835, 1351,
1646; 3 sg. -z, 1 7, 195, 644; -s,
1664. OE. wieldan, weldan.
wele, n., prosperity, 651. OE. wela.
welgest, see wely.
welkyn, n., sky, 371. Cf. OE.
wolcen.
welle, n., spring, fountain: pi. -z,
439. OE. wielle, welle.
welle-hede, n., well-head, spring,
*364: pi. -z, 428.
wely, adj., mighty, strong: superl.
welgest, 1244. OE. welig.
wen, see when.
wench, n., girl, 974, 1250 ; con-
cubine, 1423, 1716: pi. -es, 974,
1250, 1423, 1716. Shortened
form of ME. wenchel (OE.
wencel) .
wende, v. intr., go: 3 sg. -z, 675,
777; pret. 3 sg. went, 415, 857;
3 pi. went, 501 ; imper. sg.
wende, 471; pi. -z, 521. OE.
wendan.
wene, v. tr., think: 1 sg. wene, 821.
OE. wenan.
wenge, see venge.
wepe, v. intr., weep : pres. part,
wepande, 777. OE. wepan.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
209
weppen, n., weapon, 835. OE.
waepen, wepen.
were, v. tr., near, 287; refl. defend
oneself (= excuse oneself ), 69:
3 sg. -z, 287; pret. 3 sg. wer,
69. OE. werian.
werk, n., labor, 136, 1258; action,
deed, doing, 171, 266, 305, 355,
589, 658, 760, 763, 1050, 1328,
1350; creation, 198; structure,
1480; construction , 1390; ado,
1725: pi. -ez, 171, 266, 355, -es,
1480; werkkez, 136, 76a, 763;
werkkes, 1258, 1328, 1350. OE.
weorc.
wcrrc, n., war, 1178. NF. werre,
OF. guerre.
wers, comp, adj., worse, 113; as n.,
80; smaller, 719: worre, 719;
worse, 1320; superl. werst, 694.
OE. wierse, werse; cf. ON.
verri.
weryng, vbl. n., wearing, use, 1123.
wete, v. tr M wet: inf. 1027. OE.
waltan, wetan.
wc)>er, see whe}>er.
weve, v. tr., fling , push, 453; shut,
857 ; rush, 422 : pret. 3 sg. wafte,
422, 453 ; waft, 857. OE. waefan
(infl. by ON. viefa).
weye, see we5e-
wex(en), see wax.
what-kyn, adj., what kind of, 100.
what, see who.
wheder, conj., whither, 917. OE.
hwaetSer.
wheder, adv., nevertheless, 570.
OE. hwaeS(e)re, hweCre.
whederwarde, adv., whithersoever,
422.
when, conj., 37, etc.; whenever,
1047, 1700; at which time, 361;
when J?at, 961, 1537; correl. with
‘then/ 343, 529: when, 37, 61,
89, 281, etc. (32 times) ; quen,
435, 529, 560, 563, 1047, 1084,
1514; wen, 343. OE. hwanne,
hwaenne.
where, conj., 444, 491, 1079; where
so, for simple where, 675 ; wher-
ever, 791 ; wher, 1080. OE.
hwaer, hwer.
whe>er, interr. conj., 717; introd.
indir. questions, 583, 918; cor-
rel. w. o}>er, 1 13: we>er, 717.
OE. hwaeSer, hweCer.
whichche, n., chest ( —ark ), 362.
OE. hwicce.
who, interr. pron., 877; introd. in-
dir. question, 1699. Neut. what,
35, 752, 757, 913; introd. indir.
question, 152, 1119, 1556, 1557,
1567, 1587; what if, 737, 74i,
751; exclam. 487, 845, 846, 855,
1241, 1583: quat, 741, 1 1 19:
whatt, 845. OE. hwa*
who, rel. pron., who so, whoever,
1, 1647, 1649; quo so, 1650;
quos ... so, whosoever, 1648;
dat. wham, 259. Neut. what so,
whatever, 819, 1099. OE. hwa.
why, interr. adv., 828, 1595. OE.
hwy.
whyl, conj., while, 206 , 568, 780, .
1 1 14; whyle, 1124, 1655; whil,
1298. OE. hwil, n.
whyle, n., while, time, 743, 833,
1285 ; short time, 1620. OE.
hwil.
whyte, adj., white, 793, 1440 J
bright, 1120: whit, 793; quite,
1440. OE. hwlt.
wich, see wych.
wittnesse, v. tr. : inf. 1050. Cf.
OE. witnes, n.
Digitized by L^ooQle
210
Purity
wlate, impers. v., cause loathing ,
305 ; pers., be disgusted, feel
horror, 1501: 3 sg. -s, 1501, -z,
305. OE. wlatian.
wlatsum, adj., abominable, detest-
able, 541.
wlonk, adj., fair, fine, 606, 793, 831,
899, 933; as noun, fair, pure,
1052: wlonc, 899. OE. wlanc,
wlonc.
wo, n., woe, 284, 1701; affliction,
calamity, 541. OE. wa.
wod, adj., mad, 828, 1558; angry,
204; raging, 364: wode, 364,
1558. OE. wod.
wod, n., wood, 370, 1028: wode,
387. OE. wudu.
wose, n., wall: 832, 1545, 1724;
wowe, 1531, 1630; pi. W03es,
1424; wowez, 839, wowes, 1403.
OE. wag.
wok, adj., weak: comp, as noun,
wakker, 835. OE. wac.
wolf,* n. : pi. -es, 1676. OE. wulf.
wombe, n., belly, 462: pi. -s, 1250,
1255. OE. wamb, wamb.
won 1 , n., dwelling, house ; palace;
140, etc.; stalls (Vulg. man-
siunculas) 311; city, 928; won,
140, 533, 891, 928, 1508, 1770;
wone, 1489; pl. -es, 779, 841,
1178, 1197; -ez, 311, 375, 47i.
Cf. OE. gewuna.
won 2 , n., custom, 720. OE. wuna.
won, y. intr., dwell: inf. 1676; 2 sg.
-ez, 875; pres. 3 sg. wonyes,
1807; wonies, 1340; wons, 326;
pret. 3 sg. wonyed, 431, 675 ; 3 pl.
wonyed, 252; woned, 362; pres,
part, wonyande, 293. OE.
wunian.
wonde, v. tr., fear: pret. 3 sg. 855.
OE. wandian.
wonder, n., 584, 1310, 1504: wunder,
1390. OE. wundor.
wonder, adv., wonderfully, exceed-
ingly, very, 5, 153, 880, 1381.
wonderly, adv., extraordinarily,
greatly, 570. OE. wundorlice.
wone, v. intr^, decrease: pp. 496.
OE. wanian, wonian.
wonen, see Wynne,
wonnyng, n M dwelling, 921. OE.
wunung.
wont, v. tr., lack, 13; intr. w. of,
be wanting, 739: pres. subj. 3 sg.
wont, 739; 3 pl. wont, 13. ON.
vanta.
wonte, part, adj., accustomed, used,
1489. Cf. OE. wunian.
wonye, see won, v.
worcher, n., creator, 1501. Cf. OE.
wyrcean, v.
worde, n., word, 152, 213, 348, 1555,
etc.; command, 348: pl. -z, 149,
210, 302, 344, 512, 756, 809, 848,
859; -s, 1592, 1641, 1662, 1725;
worde, 84a OE. word,
♦wordlych, n., earthly, 49 (see
note) . OE. woroldlic.
work, see wyrke.
worlde, n., world, 228, 252, 293, 323,
355 , 37 i, 43 i, 496, 548, 685, 847,
1123, 1360, 1501, 1614, 1646;
reign, power, 1298; worldez
goud, 1048; worlde wythouten
ende, 712; gen. -z, 1048; -s, 1802.
OE. weorold, worold.
worm, n., serpent: pl. -ez, 533. OE.
wyrm.
worre, see wers.
worschyp, n., honor, dignity: wor-
schyp, 545, 651, 1120; worchyp,
1127, 1592, 1616, 1802. OE.
weorCscipe.
worse, see wers.
Digitized by ^ooQle
Glossary
211
worJ?c, adj., worth, 1244. OE.
weorC.
wor)?c, v. intr., become, be: inf. 580,
686, 1066; 2 sg. -s, 1738; pres,
subj. 2 sg. wor)>e, 901, 1056,
1 1 16; 3 sg. wor)>e, 60, 727, 925,
1125; imper. pi. -z, 521. OE.
weorftan.
wor}>ly, adj., worthy, good, 471,
651; honorable, illustrious, 1298,
1351 : wor)>ely, 651, wor}>elych,
471, 1351. OE. weortSlic.
worJ>y, adj., worthy, 84, 113; as n.,
718 ; honored, 231.
wost, see wyt.
wo)>e, n., danger, harm, 855, 988.
ON. va8i.
wowe(z), see wo3e.
wrak, see wreke.
wrake, n., vengeance, (God's) pun-
ishment, 213, 235, 386, 718, 970,
1050, 1143, 1225, 1808: wrache,
204, 229. OE. wracu, partly con-
fused w. OE. wraec.
wrakful, adj., angry, bitter, 302.
wrange, adj., wrong, 268; quasi-
adv. wrank, finolently, ? sud-
denly, 891. ON. (v)rangr.
wrange, n., wrong, 76.
wrappe, v. refl., wrap oneself, clothe
oneself: 2 sg. -z, 169. Etym.
uncertain.
wrast, v. tr., thrust, throw, 1802;
raise, 11 66; blow, 1403; pret.
3 sg. wrast, 1166; 3 pi. wrasten,
1403; pp. wrast, 1802. OE.
wrasstan.
wrastle, v. intr„ struggle: pret.
3 pi. 949. OE. wraestlian.
wrath, n. : 204, 326, 690, 746, 1143,
1166. ONth. wraeSCo.
wrathe, v. tr., anger, 719, 828 ; intr,,
become angry, 230: pret. 3 sg.
230, 719, 828. OE. wraj>ian.
wrech, n., wretch, 230, 828: pi. -ez,
84, 851. OE. wrecca.
wreke, v. intr., w. on, take
vengeance: pret. 3 sg. wrek, 198;
wrak, 570. OE. wrecan.
wrench, n., trick, deceitful deed:
pi. -ez, 292. OE. wrenc.
wro3t, see wyrke.
wroth, adj., angry, 5; fierce, 1676:
wroj>e, 1676. OE. wraj>.
wroth, see wyrke.
wro}>ly, adv., angrily, fiercely, 280:
wro]?ely, 949. OE. wrabHce.
wruxeled, part, adj., arrayed,
adorned, 1381 (cf. Gaw. 2191 for
meaning) . OE. wrixlian.
wryste, n., wrist, 1535. OE. wrist,
wryt, n., writing, 1552, 1567, 1630;
Scripture, 657. OE. (ge)writ.
wryte, v. tr., write: 3 sg. -s, 1534;
pp. wryten, 1725. OE. wrltan.
wry)>e, v. intr., writhe, wriggle:
3 pl. 533- OE. wri>an.
wunder, see wonder,
wunnen, see wynne.
wych, indef. interr., which, what,
1060, 1074: wich, 169, 106a OE.
hwilc.
wych, n, wizard: pl. -ez, 1577.
OE. wicca.
wychecrafte, n., witchcraft, 1560.
OE. wiccecraeft.
wyd, adv., wide, 318. OE. wide,
wyde, adj., wide, broad, 370; on
wyde, around, 1423. OE. wid.
wydo, n., widow: pl. -ez, 185. OE.
widwe.
wyf, n., wife, woman, 69, 330, 349,
658, 813, 821, 899, 933, 981, 1244,
Digitized by L^ooQle
212
Purity
1351: pi. wyves, 1250; wyvez,
1 12, 298, 350, 503. OE. wlf.
wy 3 C, n., man , person , one: wy3e,
280, 284, 293, 545, 589, 658, 875,
933, 970, 1052, 1298, 1585, 1770;
wy3, 5, 230, 675 ; pi. -z, 235, 606,
712, 813, 899, 908; -s, 1181, 1587.
OE. wiga.
wy3t* n., creature, 471. OE. wyht.
wy3t, adv., quickly, 61 7. ON. vigt,
neut. of vlgr.
wystly, adv., quickly, 908.
wyk, adj., wicked, evil , 1063;
wykke, 908. Cf. OE. wicca,
wizard.
wyket, n., wicket, gate, door, 857,
882: wykket, 501. NF. wiket,
OF. guichet.
wykked, adj., wicked, 5701, 718, 1050,
1360: wekked, 855. Based on
wyk(ke), q. v.
wyl, v., will , wish, he willing, 360,
etc.; as auxiliary, 358, 444, 513,
517, etc.; used elliptically,
mean, signify, 1552; pret. in
apodosis of condition, 36, 1153;
pret. w. pres, meaning, would
like to, 928, 1058, 1140, 1629:
1 sg. wyl, 358; 2 sg. wylt, 165,
764, 930; 3 sg. wyl, 517; pres,
subj. 2 sg. wyl, 1065; pret. 1 sg.
wolde, 928, 1153, 1629; 3 sg. 36,
126, 231, etc.; 2 pi. 800, 1153;
3 pi. 444, 807. Combined w. ne,
pires. 1 sg. nel, 513; 3 sg. nyl,
1261 ; pret. 3 sg. nolde, 1091,
1154, 1233, 1245; 3 pi. 805. OE.
willan.
wylde, adj., wild, 58, 302, 415, 533,
948, 1269, 1 676; as noun, wild
animals, 31 1, 362, 387, 503, 529,
1674. OE. wilde.
♦wylfulnes, n M wilfulness, obstinacy,
231. Cf. OE. *wilfull.
wylger, adj., fwild, 375 (see note).
Etym. uncertain.
wylle, n., will, purpose ; heart,
mind; 200, » 232, 302, 309, 565,
687, 738, 928, 1646; rage, 76 (see
note). OE. willa.
wylsfully, adv., wilfully, 268. Cf.
OE. willes ful.
wyly, adv., cunningly, 1452. Cf.
OE. wil, wile .
wynde, n., wind, 4 37 , 444 , 1484;
wynd, 847; pi. -z, 421, 457, 948.
OE. wind.
wynde, v. intr., turn, take one's
way: 3 pi. -z, 534. OE. windan.
wyndow, n., 318 : wyndowe, 453.
ON. vindauga.
wyndowande, part, adj., scattering
in the wind, 1048. OE. wynd-
wian.
wyne, n., wine, 1420, 1716: wyn,
1127, 1508. OE. win.
wynge, n., wing, 1484: pi. -z, 475.
ON. vaengr.
wynne, v. tr., obtain, get, win, 617,
650, 1120, 1305, 1550^ 1777; Pre-
vail on, induce, 1616; beget, 112;
intr., make (force) one's way,
140, 882, 1004, 1374, 1577; issue,
1669: inf. 617, 650, 1550; 3 sg.
-s, 1120; pret. 2 sg. wan, 140;
pret. 3 pi. wonnen, 882, 1374,
1577; wonen, 1777; imper. sg.
wynne, 1616; pp. wonnen, 1004,
1669; wonen, 112; wunnen, 1305.
OE. winnan.
wynnelych, adj., gracious, 1807.
OE. wynlic.
wynter, n., 525. OE. winter.
wyrde, n., fate, destiny: pi. wyrdes,
1224, 1605. OE. wyrd.
wyrke, v. tr., do, make; create;
construct; 5, 171, 205, 280, etc.;
provoke, 821 ; intr., act, 1063,
Digitized by L^ooQle
Glossary
213
1319: inf. wyrke^ 1287; work,
663; 2 sg. wyrkkes, 1063; pret.
2 sg. wro3tez, 720; pret. 3 sg.
wro3t, 5, 205, 280, 1319, 1699;
wroth, 821; pret. 3 pi. wro3t,
725; imper. sg. wyrk, 31 1; pp.
wro3t, 171, 318, 348, 1381, 1455-
OE. wyrcan.
wyrle, v. tr., whirl : ?pret. 3 sg.
wyrle, 475. ON. hvirfla.
wyse, adj., wise, 1555, 1560; as n.,
1319, 1741 : wys, 1592. OE. wis.
wyse, n., manner, way , only in
phrase, (up) on . . . wyse,
268, 271, 327, 696, 1063, 1171,
1187, 1432: pi. -s, 1805, wyse,
1728. OE. wise.
wyse, v. tr., send, 453; instruct,
1564 : 3 sg. wysses, 1564; piret.
3 sg. 453. OE. wlsian, wissian.
wyst(e), see wyt, v.
wyt, n., wisdom, 348 ; reason,
senses, 1422, 1701; mind, 515;
meaning, 1630: wytte, 1630; pi.
wyttez, 515. OE. wit.
wyt, pret. pres., know, perceive, un-
derstand: inf. 1052, 1319, 1567,
1630; 2 sg. wost, 875; pres,
subj. 3 sg. wyt; pret. 3 sg. wyst,
152, 1699, 1770 ; 3 pi. wyste. OE.
witan-wiste.
wyte, v. tr., blame : inf. 76. OE.
wltan.
wyter, adv., clearly, 1552. ON. vitr,
wise.
wyter, v. tr., inform: pp. 1587.
wyterly, adv., clearly, surely, 171,
1567.
wyth, prep., in company with, along
with, 86, 1 18, 124, etc.; together
with, 58, 339, 468, etc.; against,
for, 56; denoting means, 19, in,
1 12, etc.; manner, 10, 43, 71, 139,
etc.; agent, 90, 91, 1142, 1495;
cause, 516; with various verbs
and nouns denoting combination,
agreement, etc., 137, 327, 337,
etc.; at (temporal), 213, 671 ; in
phrases : wyth yor leve, 94 ; with
sy3t, 192; with J>at, 671: with,
19, 43, 1 18, 121, etc. (in less than
one-third of the cases). OE.
witS.
wythal, adv., in addition, 636.
wyterly, adv., fiercely, 198. Cf.
OE. wiSer, against .
wythhalde, v. tr., withhold: inf.
740.
wythinne, adv.: 2a, 305, *312, 434,
593, 883, 969, 1182, 1184, 1193,
H95, 1385, I39i, 1465. Prep.:
284, 431, 1048, 1069, 1566, 1607;
of time, 1779, 1786 : withinne,
284, 1465. OE. wiCinnan.
wytles, adj., distracted, 1585. OE.
witleas.
wythouten, adv., without, 20, 313,
1205, 1487. Prep. 252, 350, 417,
556, 660, 712, 931, 1105, 1122:
wythoute, 1205, 1487, 1725 ;
withouten, 417. OE. wiCutan.
Y.
ydropike, adj., dropsical, 1096. OF.
ydropike.
Y3C, n., eye, 133, 583, 768: pi. -n,
576, 588, 792, 978, 1005, 1222,
1695. OE. eage, ege.
Ynde, prop, n., India: 1231, 1772.
OF. Inde.
ynde, n., deep blue, 1411. OF.
inde.
yor, poss. pron M your: 94, 618, 620,
801, etc. OE. eower.
yorself, see self,
yow, see J?ou.
Digitized by L^ooQle
214
Purity
yowself, see self.
yre, n., ire , 77 St 1240, 1503. OF. ire.
y}>e, n., wave : pi. *y}>ez, 43a OE.
y>.
3.
5&rk, v. tr., prepare, make ready,
652; set up, 1708; grant, 758:
1 sg. 3ark, 758; pp. *652, 1708.
OE. gearcian.
3arm, n., outcry, 971. Cf. ON.
jarmr.
3at, see get.
3ate, n., gate, entrance, 796 : pi. -s,
78S, 854, 884 1188, 1263; -z, 837,
938, 941. OE. geat, gaet.
3ederly, adv., entirely, 463. Cf.
OE. *geaedre.
3e, adv., yea, yes, 34 7* OE. gea.
3e, see )>ou.
3ede, see go.
3e3e, v. intr., cry: pret. 3 pi- 846.
Cf. ON. geyja.
3elde, v. tr., give, 665 ; restore,
1708; inf. pp. 3olden, 1708. OE.
gieldan, geldan.
3ellyng, vbl. n., yelling, 971. OE.
giellan, gellan.
3elpe, v. intr M boast: pret. 3 pi-
3olped, 846. OE. gielpan, gelpan.
3eme, v. tr., guard, rule over: 3 sg.
-s, 1493; pret. 3 sg. 464, 1242.
OE. gfeman, geman.
3ender, adv., yonder, 1617. OE.
geon 4- suffix -der ; cf . Goth,
jaindre.
3epe, adj., alert, prompt, bold, 881 ;
as n. 3ep, 796. OE. geap, gep.
3eply, adv., quickly, soon, 665, 1708.
OE. geaplice.
3er, n., year: 494, 1286; pi. -ez, 426,
526; 3er, 1192; 3ere, 1453. OE.
gear, ger.
3eme x , v. tr., desire: 2 sg. -z, 758;
pp. 66. OE. giernan, geman.
3eme*, v. intr., run: pret. 3 sg.
3ornen, 881. OE. geiernan.
3estande, part, adj., frothing, 84 6.
Cf. OE. gist, yeast.
3et, adv., yet, hitherto, 197, 815, 867,
1312; w. future, 517, 648; still,
847, 984, 1021, 1049, 1158;
further, besides, 1232, 1525, 1803 ;
even, even now, 754, 758; w.
comparatives, 50, 96, 97; never -
theless, 120, 230, 450, 664, etc.
(14 times) : 3ette, 867. OE.
giet, get.
3ete, see get.
3if, see if.
3is, adv., yes, truly, 1113. OE. gise.
Sisterday, n., yesterday, as gen., 463.
OE. gistrandaeg.
3okke, n., yoke: pi. -z, 66. OE.
geoc.
3olden, see 3elde.
3olped, see 3elpe.
3omerly, adj., lamentable, 971. OE.
geomerlic.
3on, adj., yon, 751, 772. OE. geon.
3onde, adj., yon, 721. Cf. OE.
geond, adv.
3onge, adj., young, 783, 881; 3ong,
842. OE. geong.
3ore-whyle, adv., a short time ago,
842. OE. geara + hwll.
3omen, see 3eme*.
Z.
♦Zedechyas, prop, n., Zedekiah,
1169. Lat. Sedecias.
Digitized by Google
BIBLIOGRAPHY
This bibliography is select, containing only the more important works
on each subject.
I. EDITIONS
Early English Alliterative Poems, in the West-Midland Dialect of the
Fourteenth Century. Edited by Richard Morris (Early English Text
Society, Vol. i). London, 1864; revised edition, 1869. Cited as M.
Selections from Purity, comprising lines 235-544, 947-72, 1009-51, in
Morris’s Specimens of Early English. Oxford, 1867, and in Morris
and Skeat’s Specimens of Early English, Part II, Oxford, 1872,
revised 1884, 1894.
II. TRANSLATIONS
I. Gollancz, edition of Pearl (see below under VIII), pp. xxviii-xxx.
Paraphrases of Purity, lines 361-70, 381-3, 414-24, 551-6, ina-32.
Jessie L. Weston, Romance, Vision, and Satire, pp. 153-70. Boston, 1912.
Poetic rendering of lines 1357-1812 (Belshazzar’s Feast).
III. DATE, AUTHORSHIP, AND RELATIONSHIP TO
OTHER POEMS
Morris, Preface to Early English Alliterative Poems (see above under I).
M. Trautmann, Uber Verfasser und Entstehungszeit einiger Alliter-
ierender Gedichte des Altenglischen. Halle, 1876. Also published
with sub-title Habilitationsschrift, by which name it is often cited.
M. Trautmann, Der Dichter Huchown und seine Werke (Anglia
1. 109-49).
Ten Brink (see below under VII).
M. C. Thomas, Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight. A Comparison with
the French Perceval, preceded by an Investigation of the Author’s
Other Works. Zurich, 1883.
Knigge (see below under V), pp. 1-10.
Henry Bradley, Academy, Jan. 14, 1888.
J. B. Hen neman, Untersuchungen uber das Mittelenglische Gedicht ‘Wars
of Alexander,* pp. 30-5. Berlin, 1889.
Gollancz, Introduction to edition of Pearl (see below under VIII).
G. Neilson, ‘Huchown of the Awle Ryale,’ the Alliterative Poet. A
Historical Criticism of Fourteenth Century Poems ascribed to Sir
Hew of Eglintoun. Glasgow, 1902.
Digitized by L^ooQle
2l6
Purity
J. T. T. Brown, Huchown of the Awle Ryale and his Poems, examined
in the Light of Recent Criticism. Glasgow, 1902.
C. F. Brown, The Author of the Pearl, considered in the Light of Theo-
logical Opinions (Publications of the Modern Language Association
19. 146-8). 1
C. G. Osgood, Introduction to edition of Pearl (see below under VIII).
C. Reicke; Untersuchungen iiber den Stil der Mittelenglischen Alliter-
ierenden Gedichte Morte Arthure, The Destruction of Troy, The
Wars of Alexander, The Siege of Jerusalem, Sir Gawayn and the
Green Knight : ein Beitrag zur Losung der Huchown-Frage. Konigs-
berg i. Pr., 1906.
H. N. MacCracken, Concerning Huchown (Publications of the Modern
Language Association 25. 507-34).
H. Bateson, Introduction to edition of Patience (see below under VIII).
J. E. Wells’ Manual of the Writings of Middle English 1050-1400, New
Haven, 1916, should be consulted for further bibliography of the
Huchown question and of the separate alliterative poems.
IV. SOURCES
C. F. Brown, Note on the Dependence of ‘Cleanness’ on the ‘Book of
Mandeville’ (Publications of the Modern Language Association
19. 149-53)*
O. F. Emerson, A Parallel between the Middle English Poem Patience
and an Early Latin Poem attributed to Tertullian (Publications of
the Modern Language Association 10. 242-8).
O. F. Emerson, A Note on the M. E. ‘Cleanness’ (Modem Language
Review ia 373-5)*
S. B. Liljegren, Has the Poet of ‘Patience’ read ‘De Jona’? (Englische
Studien 48. 337-41).
V. METRE AND ALLITERATION
F. Rosenthal, Die Alliterierende Englische Langzeile im 14. Jahrhundert
(Anglia 1. 414-59)*
J. Schipper, Englische Metrik 1. 195-212. Bonn, 1881.
J. Fuhrmann, Die Alliterierenden Sprachformelm in Morris’ Early Eng-
lish Alliterative Poems und in Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight.
Hamburg, 1886.
K. Luick* Die Englische Stabreimzeile im XIV., XV., und XVI. Jahr-
hundert (Anglia 11. 392-44 3, 553-618; esp. 572-85).
Max Kaluza, Strophische Gliederung in der Mittelenglischen rein Alliter-
irenden Dichtung (Englische Studien 16. 169-80).
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Google
Bibliography
217
J. Lawrence, Chapters on Alliterative Verse, pp. 89-99. London, 1893.
M. Trautmann, Zur Kenntniss und Geschichte der Mittelenglischen
Stabzeile (Anglia 18. 83-100).
B. Kuhnke, Die alliterierenden Langzeile in der Mittelenglischen Romanze
Sir Gawayn and the Green Knight (Studien zum Germanischen
Alliterationsvers, Vol. 4). Berlin, 1900. Reviewed by Fischer, Anglia
Beiblatt 12. 65-76, and Luick, ibid. pp. 33 ff.
J. Fischer, Die Stabende Langzeile in den Werken des Gawaindichters
(Bonner Beitrage zur Anglistik 11. 1-64). Bonn, 1901. Reviewed
by Luick, Anglia Beiblatt 12. 33-49. Compare further Fischer and
Mennicken, Zur Mittelenglischen Stabzeile (a reply to Luick), pp.
139-54 of Bonner Beitrage 11.
M. Deutschbein, Zur Entwicklung des Englischen Alliterationsverses.
Halle, 1902.
K. Luick, in Paul’s Grundriss der Germanischen Philologie, 2d ed.,
2. 2. 160-8. Strassburg, 1905.
J. Thomas, Die Alliterierende Langzeile des Gawayn-Dichters. Coburg,
1908.
K. Schumacher, Studien iiber den Stabreim in der Mittelenglischen
Alliterationsdichtung (Bonner Studien zur Englischen Philologie,
Vol. 11). Bonn, 1914.
VI. LANGUAGE
Morris, Preface to Early English Alliterative Poems (see above under I),
pp. xxi-xl.
F. Schwahn, Die Conjugation in Sir Gawayn and the Green Knight und
den Sogenannten Early English Alliterative Poems. Strassburg, 1884.
W. Fick, Zum Mittelenglischen Gedicht von der Perle: eine Lautunter-
suchung. Kiel, 1885.
F. Knigge, Die Sprache des Dichters von Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, der Sogenannten Early English Alliterative Poems, und De
Erkenwalde. Marburg, 1885.
J. Fischer, Die Stabende Langzeile (see above under V), pp. 48-61.
M. Kullnick, Studien iiber den Wortschatz in Sir Gawayne and the Grene
Kny3t. Berlin, 1902.
K. Schmittbetz, Das Adjektiv in ‘Sir Gawayn and the Grene Kny3t’
(Anglia 32. 1-60, 163-89, 359 - 83 )-
H. Bateson, Introduction to Patience (see below under VIII), pp.
xxxii-vii.
H. Bateson, The Text of Cleanness (Modern Language Review 13-377-86).
I. Gollancz, The Text of Cleanness (ibid. 14. 152-62).
Digitized by ^ooQle
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Purity
0. F. Emerson, Middle English Clannesse (Publications of the Modern
Language Association 34. 494-522).
Mabel Day, The Weak Verb in the Works of the Gawain-Poet (Modern
Language Review 14. 413-5).
VII. GENERAL
Ten Brink, Early English Literature (translated by Kennedy) 1. 337-51.
New York, 1883.
1. Gollancz, Introduction to Pearl (see below under VIII).
A. Brandi* in Paul’s Grundriss der Germanischen Philologie, 1st ed.,
2. 661-3. Strassburg, 1893.
C. B. Brown, The Author of the Pearl, considered in the Light of his
Theological Opinions (Publications of the Modern Language Asso-
ciation 19. 1 15-53) •
W. H. Schofield, The Nature and Fabric of The Pearl. Ibid. 19. 154-203.
W. H. Schofield, Symbolism, Allegory, and Autobiography in The Pearl
(ibid. 24. 585-675).
C. G. Osgood, Introduction to Pearl (see below under VIII).
I. Gollancz, Cambridge History of English Literature. Vol. I, chapter
15. London and New York, 1907.
C. Weichardt, Die Entwicklung des Naturgefuhls in der Mittelenglischen
Dichtung vor Chaucer (einschliesslich des Gawain-Dichters), pp.
79-92. Kiel, 1900. *
F. W. Moorman, The Interpretation of Nature in English Poetry from
Beowulf to Shakespeare (Quellen und Forschungen, Vol. 95). Chapter
7. Strassburg, 1905.
VIII. EDITIONS OF WORKS BY THE AUTHOR OF PURITY
AND OTHER ALLITERATIVE POEMS FREQUENTLY CITED
Sir Gawayne, a Collection of Ancient Romance-Poems. Edited by Sir
Frederic Madden. London, 1839.
Sir Gawayne and The Green Knight. Edited by Richard Morris (Early
English Text Society, Vol. 4). London, 1864. Revised by I. Gollancz
in 1897, and further in 1912. (Edition cited.)
Pearl and Patience (see Early Engl. Allit. Poems under I).
Pearl, an English Poem of the Fourteenth Century. Edited with a
Modern Rendering by I. Gollancz. London, 1891.
The Pearl, a Middle English Poem. Edited by Charles G. Osgood.
Boston and London, 1906. (Edition cited.)
Patience, a West Midland Poem of the Fourteenth Century. Edited by
Hartley Bateson. Manchester, 1912. Reviewed by Emerson, Mod.
Digitized by
Google
Bibliography
219
Lang. Notes 28. 171-80; Ekwall, Angl. Beiblatt 24. 133-6; Macaulay,
Mod. Lang. Rev. 8. 396-8; Brandi, Archiv fur die Neueren Sprachen
129. 516; Athenaeum, Oct. 26, 1912; Liljegren, Engl. Stud. 49. 142-3.
2d ed., recast and partly rewritten, Manchester, 1918. (Edition cited.)
Patience^ an Alliterative Version of ‘Jonah/ by the Poet of Pearl.
Edited by I. Gollancz. London, 1913. Reviewed by Ekwall, Engl.
Stud. 49. 144-6.
De Erkenwalde, in Horstmann’s Altenglischen Legenden, Neue Folge,
pp. 265-74. Heilbronn, 1881. (Erken.)
The Wars of Alexander, an Alliterative Romance. Re-edited by W. W.
Skeat (Early English Text Society, Extra Series, Vol. 47). London,
1886. (Alex. C.)
The Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman. . . . Ed. by W. W.
Skeat (Early English Text Society, Vols. 28, 38, 54, 81). London,
1867-1884.
The Parlement of the Thre Ages, and Wynnere and Wastoure. Edited
for the Roxburghe Club by I. Gollancz. London, 1897.
The Parlement of the Thre Ages, an Alliterative Poem on the Nine
Worthies and the Heroes of Romance. Edited by I. Gollancz. Lon-
don* 1915.
The Romance of William of Palerne (otherwise known as the Romance
of William and the Werwolf). Re-edited by W. W. Skeat (Early
English Text Society, Extra Series, Vol. 1). London, 1867.
The Gest Hystoriale of the Destruction of Troy. Edited by G. A. Panton
and D. Donaldson (Early English Text Society, Vols. 39, 56). Lon-
don, 1869, 1874. (Destr. Troy.)
Death and Life, with Introduction by W. W. Skeat, in Bishop Percy’s
Folio Manuscript, edited by Hales and Furnivall, 3. 49-75. London,
1868.
Death and Liffe, an Alliterative Poem. Edited by James H. Hanford and
John M. Steadman,, Jr. (North Carolina Studies in Philology, Vol.
15, No. 3). Chapel Hill, N. C., 1918.
Scottish Alliterative Poems. Edited by F. J. Amours. 2 vols. (Scottish
Text Society, 1897). Includes the texts Golagros and Gawayne,
Awntyrs off Arthure (Awnt. Arth.), Pistill of Susan, Buke of the
Howlat.
Sege of Jerusalem. Herausgegeben von G. Steffier. Marburg, 1891.
Morte Arthur. Herausgegeben von E. Bjorkman. Heidelberg, 1915.
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APPENDIX
PASSAGES FROM THE VULGATE*
The Flood
Gen. 6. 1-8. Cumque coepissent homines multiplicari super terram et
filias procreassent, videntes filii Dei filias hominum, quod essent
pulchrae, acceperunt sibi uxores ex omnibus, quas elegerant. . . .
Gigantes autem erant super terram in diebus illis. Postquam enim
ingressi sunt filii Dei ad filias hominum illaeque genuerunt, isti sunt
potentes a saeculo viri famosi. Videns autem Deus, quod multa
malitia hominum esset in terra, et cuncta cogitatio cordis intenta esset
ad malum omni tempore, poenituit eum quod hominem fecisset in
terra. Et tactus dolore cordis intrinsecus : Delebo, inquit, hominem,
quern creavi, a facie terrae, ab homine usque ad animantia, a reptili
usque ad volucres caeli; poenitet enim me fecisse eos. Neo vero
invenit gratiam coram Domino.
6. 9-22. Hae sunt generationes Noe: Noe vir justus atque perfectus
fuit in generationibus suis, cum Deo ambulavit. Et genuit tres filios,
Sem, Cham et Japheth. Corrupta est autem terra coram Deo, et
repleta est iniquitate. Cumque vidisset Deus terram esse corruptam,
(omnis quippe caro corruperat viam suam super terram) dixit ad
Noe: Finis universae carnis venit coram me: repleta est terra iniqui-
tate a facie eorum, et ego disperdam eos cum terra. Fac tibi arcam
de lignis laevigatis; mansiunculas in area facies et bitumine linies
intrinsecus et extrinsecus. Et sic facies earn : trecentorum cubitorum
erit longitudo arcae, quinquaginta cubitorum latitudo, et triginta
cubitorum altitudo illius. Fenestram in area facies, et in cubito
consummabis summitatem ejus; ostium autem arcae pones ex latere;
deorsum, ccenacula* et tristega facies in ea. Ecce ego adducam aquas
diluvii super terram, ut interficiam omnem carnem, in qua spiritus
vitae est subter caelum. Universae quae in terra sunt, consumentur.
Ponamque foedus meuqi tecum, et ingredieris arcam tu et filii tui,
uxor tua, et uxores filiorum tuorum tecum. Et ex cunctis animantibus
universae carnis bina induces in arcam, ut vivant tecum: masculini
sexus et feminini. De volucribus juxta genus suum, et de jumentis
in genere suo, et ex omni reptili terrae secundum genus suum, bina
* Only the longer narrative passages paraphrased by the poet are here
given. Single verses quoted or alluded to will be found in the notes.
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de omnibus ingredientur tecum, ut possint vivere. Tolies igitur tecum
ex omnibus escis, quae mandi possunt, et comportabis apud te; et
erunt tarn tibi, quam illis in cibum. Fecit igitur Noe omnia, quae
praeceperat illi Deus.
7. 1-11. Dixitque Dominus ad eum: Ingredere tu et omnis domus tua
in arcam; te enim vidi justum coram me in generatione hac. Ex
omnibus animantibus mundis tolle septena et septena, masculum et
feminam; de animantibus vero immundis duo et duo, masculum et
feminam. . . . Adhuc enim et post dies septem ego pluam super
terram, . . . et delebo omnem substantiam, quam feci, de superficie
terrae. Fecit ergo Noe omnia, quae mandaverat ei Dominus. . . .
Cumque transissent septem dies, aquae diluvii inundaverunt super
terram. Anno sexcentesimo vitae Noe, mense secundo, septimodecimo
die mensis, rupti sunt omnes fontes abyssi magnae, et cataractae caeli
apertae sunt.
7. 17-24. Factumque est diluvium quadraginta diebus super terram: et
multiplicatae sunt aquae, et elevaverunt arcam in sublime a terra.
Vehementer enim inundaverunt et omnia repleverunt in superficie
terrae; porro area ferebatur super aquas. Et aquae praevaluerunt
nimis super terram, opertique sunt omnes montes excelsi sub universo
caelo. Quindecim cubitus altior fuit aqua super montes, quos operuerat.
Con sump taque est omnis caro quae movebatur super terram, volucrum,
animantium, bestiarum, omniumque repitilium quae reptant super
terram; universi homines et cuncta, in quibus spiraculum vitae est in
terra, mortua sunt. Et delevit omnem substantiam, quae erat super
terram, ab homine usque ad pecus, tarn reptile quam volucres caeli;
et deleta sunt de terra; remansit autem solus Noe et qui cum eo
erant in area. Obtinueruntque aquae terram centum quinquaginta
diebus.
8 . 1-22. Recordatus autem Deus Noe . . . adduxit spiritum super terram,
et imminutae sunt aquae. Et clausi sunt fontes abyssi, et cataractae
caeli : et prohibitae sunt pluviae de caelo. Reversaeque sunt aquae de
terra euntes et redeuntes et coeperunt minui post centum quinquaginta
dies. Requievitque area mense septimo, vigesimo septimo die mensis,
super montes Armeniae. At vero aquae ibant et decrescebant usque
ad decimum mensem. Decimo enim mense, prima die mensis, apparue-
runt cacumina montium. Cumque transissent quadraginta dies,
aperiens Noe fenestram arcae, quam fecerat, dimisit corvum, qui
egradiebatur, et non revertebatur, donee siccarentur aquae super
terram. Emisit quoque columbam post eum, ut videret si jam cessas-
sent aquae super faciem terrae. Quae cum non invenisset ubi
requiesceret pes ejus, reversa est ad eum in arcam . . . extenditque
manum, et apprehensam intulit in arcam. . . . Rursum dimisit
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columbam ex area. At ilia venit ad eum ad vesperam portans ramum
olivae virentibus foliis in ore suo, intellexit ergo Noe quod cessassent
aquae super terram. . . . Igitur sexcentesimo primo anno, primo
mense, prima die mensis, imminutae sunt aquae super terram, et
aperiens Noe tectum arcae, aspexit, viditque quod exsiccata esset
superficies terrae. . . . Locutus est autem Deus ad Noe, dicens:
Egredere de area . . . et ingredimini super terram: crescite et
multiplicamini super earn. Egressus est ergo Noe, et filii ejus, uxor
illius, et uxores filiorum ejus cum eo. Sed et omnia animantia,
jumenta, et reptilia quae repitant super terram secundum genus suum,
egressa sunt de area. Aedificavit autem Noe altare Domino, et tollens
de cunctis pecoribus et volucribus mundis, obtulit holocausta super
altare. Odoratusque est Dominus odorem suavitatis, et ait: Nequa-
quam ultra maledicam terrae propter homines. Sensus enim et
cogitatio humani cordis in malum prona sunt ab adolescentia sua;
non igitur ultra percutiam omnem animam viventem sicut feci.
Cunctis diebus terrae, sementis et messis, frigus et aestus, aestas et
hiems, nox et dies, non requiescent.
Abraham and Lot
Gen. 18. 1-15. Apparuit autem ei Dominus in convalle Mambre sedenti in
ostio tabernaculi sui in ipso fervore diei. Cumque elevasset oculos,
apparuerunt ei tres viri stantes prope eum ; quos cum vidisset, cucurrit
in occursum eorum de ostio tabernaculi, et adoravit in terram. Et
dixit: Domine, si inveni gratian in oculis tuis, ne transeas servum
tuum! Sed afferam pauxillum aquae, et lavate pedes vestros [variant
reading: laventur pedes vestri (see note on 1. 618)] et requiescite
sub arbore; ponamque buccellam panis, et confortate cor vestrum,
postea transibitis: id circo enim declinastis ad servum vestrum. Qui
dixerunt: fac ut locutus es! Festinavit Abraham in tabernaculum
ad Saram, dixitque ei : Accelera, tria sata similae commisce et fac
subcinericios panes. Ipse vero ad armentum cucurrit, et tulit inde
vitulum tenerrimum et optimum, deditque puero; qui festinavit et
coxit ilium. Tulit quoque butyrum et lac, et vitulum quern coxerat,
et posuit coram eis; ipse vero stabat juxta eos sub arbore. Cumque
comedissent, dixerunt ad eum . . . Cui dixit : Revertens veniam
ad te tempore isto, vita comite, et habebit filium Sara uxor tua. Quo
audito Sara risit post ostium tabernaculi. Erant autem ambo senes,
provectaeque aetatis, et desierant Sarae fieri muliebria. Quae risit
occulte, dicens: Postquam consenui, et dominus meus vetulus est,
voluptati operam dabo? Dixit autem Dominus ad Abraham: Quare
risit Sara, dicens: Num vere paritura sum anus? Numquid Deo
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quidquam est difficile? juxta condictum revertar ad te hoc eodem
tempore, vita comite, et habebit Sara filium. Negavit Sara dicens,
Non risi, timore perterrita; Dominus autem: Non est, inquit, ita,
sed risisti.
18. 16-23. Cum ergo surrexissent inde viri, direxerunt oculos contra
Sodomam; et Abraham simul gradiebatur, deducens eos. Dixitque
Dominus: Num celare potero Abraham quae gesturus sum? Cum
futurus sit in gentem magnam, ac robustissimam, et benedicendae
sint in illo omnes nationes terrae? Scio enim quod praecepiturus sit
filiis suis, et domui suae post se ut custodiant viam Domini, et faciant
judicium et justitiam, ut adducat Dominus propter Abraham omnia
quae locutus est ad eum. Dixit itaque Dominus : Clamor Sodomorum
et Gomorrhae multiplicatus est, et peccatum eorum aggravatum est
nimis. Descendam et videbo utrum clamorem qui venit ad me opere
compleverint ; an non est ita, ut sciam. . . . Converteruntque se
inde, et abierunt Sodomam. Abraham vero adhuc stabat coram
Domino. Et appropinquans ait: Numquid perdes justum cum impio?
Si fuerint quinquaginta justi in civitate, peribunt simul, et non parces
loco illi propter quinquaginta justos, si fuerint in eo? Absit a te,
ut rem hanc facias, et occidas justum cum impio, fiatque justus sicut
impius, non est hoc tuum, qui judicas omnem terram, nequaquam
facies judicium hoc. Dixitque Dominus ad eum: Si invenero Sodomis
quinquaginta justos in medio civitatis, dimittam omni loco propter eos.
Respondensque Abraham, ait: Quia semel ccepi, loquar ad Dominum
meum, cum sim pulvis et cinis. Quid si minus quinquaginta justis
quinque fuerint? delebis, propter quadraginta quinque, universam
urbem? Et ait: Non delebo, si invenero ibi quadraginta quinque.
Rursumque locutus est as eum: Sin autem quadraginta ibi inventi
fuerint, quid facies? Ait: Non percutiam propter quadraginta. Ne
quaeso, inquit, indigneris Domine, si loquar: Quid si ibi inventi
triginta? Respondit: Non faciam, si invenero ibi triginta. Quia
semel, ait, coepi, loquar ad Dominum meum: Quid si ibi inventi
fuerint viginti ? Ait: Non interficiam propter viginti. Obsecro, inquit,
ne irascaris, Domine, si loquar adhuc semel: Quid si inventi fuerint
ibi decern? Et dixit: Non delebo propter decern. Abiitque Dominus,
piostquam cessavit loqui ad Abraham: et ille reversus est in locum
suum.
19. 1-22. Veneruntque duo Angeli Sodomam vespere, et sedente Lot in
foribus civitatis. Qui cum vidisset eos, surrexit, et ivit obviam eis,
adoravitque pronus in terram et dixit: Obsecro, Domini, declinate in
domum pueri vestri et manere ibi: lavate pedes vestros, et mane
proficiscemini in viam vestram. Qui dixerunt: Minime, sed in platea
manebimus. Compulit illos oppido, ut diverterent ad eum; ingressis-
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que domum illius fecit convivium, et coxit azyma, et comederunt.
Prius autem quam irent cubitum, viri civitatis vallaverunt domum, a
puero usque ad senem, omnis populus simul. Vooaveruntque Lot,
et dixerunt ei: Ubi sunt viri qui introierunt ad te nocte? educ illos
hue, ut cognoscamus eos. Egressus ad eos Lot, post tergum occludens
ostium, ait: Nolite, quaeso, fratres mei, nolite malum hoc facere.
Habeo duas filias, quae necdum cognoverunt virum; educam eas ad
vos, et abutimini eis sicut vobis pilacuerit, dummodo viris istis nihil
mali faciatis, quia ingressi sunt sub umbra culminis mei. At illi
dixerunt: . . . Ingressus es, inquiunt, ut advena; numquid ut
judices? te ergo ipsum magis quam hos affligemus. Vimque faciebant
Lot vehementissime, jamque prope erat ut effringerent fores. Et ecce
miserunt manum viri, et introduxerunt ad se Lot, clauseruntque
ostium: Et eos, qui foris erant, percusserunt caecitate a minimo
usque ad maximum, ita ut ostium invenire non possent. Dixerunt
autem ad Lot: Habes hie quempiam tuorum? generum, aut filios,
aut filias? Omnes, qui tui sunt, educ de urbe hac! Delebimus enim
locum istum, eo quod increverit clamor eorum coram Domino, qui
misit nos, ut perdamus illos. Egressus itaque Lot, locutus est ad
generos suos qui accepturi erant filias ejus, et dixit: Surgite egredimini
de loco isto, quia delebit Dominus civitatem hanc. Et visus est eis
quasi ludens loqui. Cumque esset mane, cogebant eum Angeli,
dicentes: Surge, tolle uxorem tuam, et duas filias quas habes; ne
et tu pariter pereas in scelere civitatis. Dissimulante illo appre-
henderunt manum ejus, et manum uxor is ac duarum filiarum ejus, eo
quod piarceret Dominus illi. Eduxeruntque eum, et posuerunt extra
civitatem ; ibique locuti sunt ad eum, dicentes : Salva animam tuam ;
noli respicere post tergum, nec stes in omni circa regione^ sed in
monte salvum te fac ne et tu simul pereas. Dixitque Lot ad eos . . .
ne forte apprehendat me malum, et moriar. Est civitas haec juxta,
ad quam possum f ugere, parva, et salvabor in ea ; numquid non modica
est, et vivet anima mea ? Dixitque ad eum : Ecce, etiam in hoc suscepi
preces tuas, ut non subvertam urbem pro qua locutus es. Festina et
salvare ibi.
19. 23-28. Sol egressus est super terram, et Lot ingressus est Segor.
Igitur Dominus pluit super Sodoman et Gomorrham sulphur et ignem
a Domino de caelo, et subvertit civitates has, et omnem circa regionem,
universos habitatores urbium, et cuncta terrae virentia. Respiciens-
que uxor ejus post se, versa est in statuam salis. Abraham autem
consurgens mane, ubi steterat prius eum Domino, intuitus est Sodomam
et Gomorrham, et universam terram regionis illius: viditque ascen-
dentem favillam de terra quasi fornacis fumum.
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Nebuchadnazzar and Belshazzar
2 Chron. 36. 11-20. . . . Sedecias . . . undecim annis regnavit in
Jerusalem. Fecitque malum in oculis Domini Dei sui. . . . et
universi principes sacerdotum, et populus, praevaricati sunt inique
juxta universas abominationes Gentium, et polluerunt domum Domini,
quam sanctificaverat sibi in Jerusalem. . . . Adduxit enim super
eos regem Chaldaeorum, et inter fecit juvenes eorum gladio in domo
sanctuarii sui, non est misertus adolescentis, et virginis, et senis, nec
decrepiti quidem, sed omnes tradidit in manibus ejus. ... Si
quis evaserat gladium, ductus in Babylonem servivit regi et filiis ejus.
Jcr. 52. 1-26. . . . Sedecias . . . undecim annis regnavit in Jeru-
salem. . . . Et fecit malum in oculis Domini, juxta omnia quae
fecerat Joakim. Quoniam furor Domini erat in Jerusalem et in
Juda usquequo projiceret eos a facie sua; et recessit Sedecias a
rege Babylonis. Factum est autem in anno nono regni ejus, in mense „
decimo, decima mensis, venit Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis, ipse
et omnis exercitus ejus adversus Jerusalem, et obsederunt earn, et
aedificaverunt contra earn munitiones in circuitu. Et fuit civitas
obsessa usque ad undecimum annum regis Sedeciae. Mense autem
quarto, nona mensis obtinuit fames civitatem, et non erant alimenta
populo terrae. Et dirupta est civitas,, et omnes viri bellatores ejus
fugerunt, exieruntque de civitate nocte per viam portae, quae est
inter duos muros, et ducit ad hortum regis (Chaldaeis obsidentibus
urbem in gyro) et abierunt per viam, quae ducit in eremum. Perse-
cute est autem Chaldaeorum exercitus regem, et apprehenderunt
Sedeciam in deserto, quod est juxta Jericho, et omnis comitatus ejus
diffugit ab eo. Cumque comprehendissent regem, adduxerunt eum ad
regem Babylonis et locutus est ad eum judicia. Et jugulavit rex
Babylonis filios Sedeciae in oculis ejus, sed et omnes principes Juda
occidit in Reblatha. Et oculos Sedeciae eruit, et vinxit eum com-
pedibus, et adduxit eum rex Babylonis in Babylonem, et ppsuit eum
in domo carceris usque ad diem mortis ejus. . . . venit Nabuzardan
princeps militae, qui stabat coram rege Babylonis in Jerusalem. Et
incendit domum Domini, et domum regis, et omnes domos Jerusalem,
et omnem domum magnam igni combussit. Et totum murum Jeru-
salem per circuitum destruxit, cunctus exercitus Chaldaeorum, qui
erat cum magistro militiae. De pauperibus autem populi, et de reliquo
vulgo quod remanserat in civitate, et de perfugis, qui transfugerant
ad regem Babylonis, et ceteros de multitudine, transtulit Nabuzardan
princeps militiae. . . . Columnas quoque aereas, quae erant in domo
Domini, et bases, et mare aeneum, quod erat in domo Domini, con-
fregerunt Chaldaei, et tulerunt omne aes eorum in Babylonem. Et
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lebetes, et creagras, et psalteria, et phialas, et mortariola, et omnia
vasa aerea, quae in ministerio fuerant, tulerunt. Et hydrias, et
thymiamateria* et urceos, et pelves, et candelabra, et mortaria, et
cyathos: quotquot aurea, aurea et quotquot argentea, argentea tulit
magister militiae; et columnas duas, et mare unum, et vitulos duo-
decim aereos, qui erant sub basibus, quas fecerat rex Salomon in
domo Domini. Non erat pondus aeris omnium horum vasorum. De
columnis autem, decern et octo cubiti altitudinis erant in columna
una, et funiculus duodecim cubitorum circuibat earn, porro grossitudo
ejus quattuor digitorum, et intrinsecus cava erat; et capitella super
utramque aerea, altitudo capitelli unius quisque cubitorum; et
retiacula, et malogranata super coronam in circuitu, omnia aerea.
Similiter columnae secundae, et malogranata. Et fuerunt malogranata
nonaginta sex dependentia : et omnia malogranata centum, retiaculis
circumdabantur. . . . Tulit autem eos Nabuzardan magister
militiae, et duxit eos ad regem Babylonis in Reblatha.
Dan. 4. 27-33. Responditque rex, et ait: Nonne haec est Babylon magna,
quam ego aedificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meae, et
in gloria decoris mei? Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox
de caelo ruit : Tibi dicitur Nabuchodonosor rex : Regnum tuum
transibit a te, et ab hominibus ejicient te, et cum bestis et feris erit
habitatio tua: fcenum quasi bos comedes, et septem tempora muta-
buntur super te, donee scias quod dominetur excelsus in regno
hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud. Eadem hora sermo
completus est supier Nabuchodonosor; et ex hominibus abjectus est,
et fcenum ut bos comedit, et rore caeli corpus ejus infectum est,
donee capilli ejus in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues
ejus quasi avium. ... In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est
ad me, et ad honorem regni mei, decoremque perveni, et figura mea
reversa est ad me; et optimates mei, et magistratus mei requisierunt
me, et in regno meo restitutus sum, et magnificentia amplior addita
est mihi.
Dan. 5. Baltassar rex fecit grande convivium optimatibus suis mille, et
unusquisque secundum suam bibebat aetatem. Praecepit ergo jam
temulentus ut afferrentur vasa aurea et argentea, quae asportaverat
Nabuchodonosor pater ejus de templo, quod fuit in Jerusalem, ut
biberent in eis rex, et optimates ejus, uxoresque ejus, et concubinae.
Tunc allata sunt vasa aurea, et argentea, quae asportaverat de templo
quod fuerat in Jerusalem, et biberunt in eis rex, et optimates ejus,
uxores et concubinae illius. Bibebant vinum, et laudabant deos suos
aureos et argenteos, aereos, ferreos ligneosque et lapideos. In eadem
hora apparuerunt digiti, quasi manus hominis scribentis contra
candelabrum in super ficie parietis aulae regiae, et rex aspiciebat
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articulos manus scribentis. Tunc facies regis commutata est, et
cogitationes ejus conturbabant eum, et compages renum ejus solve-
bantur, et genua ejus ad se invicem collidebantur. Exclamavit itaque
rex fortiter ut introducerent magnos, Chaldaeos, et aruspices. Et
proloquens rex ait sapientibus Babylonis: Quicumque legerit scrip-
turam hanc, et interpretationem ejus manifestam mihi fecerit, purpura
vestietur, et torquem auream habebit in collo, et tertius in regno meo
erit. Tunc ingressi omnes sapientes regis non potuerunt nec scrip-
turam legere, nec interpretationem indicare regi. Unde rex Baltassar
satis conturbatus est, et vultus illius immutatus est; sed et optimates
ejus turbabantur. Regina autem pro re, quae acciderat regi, et
optimatibus ejus, domum convivii ingressa est, et proloquens ait:
Rex in aeternum vive! non te conturbent cogitationes tuae, neque
facies tua immutetur. Est vir in regno tuo, qui spiritum deorum
sanctorum habet in se, et in diebus patris tui scientia et sapientia
inventae sunt in eo; nam et rex Nebuchodonosar pater tuus principem
magorum, incantatorum, Chaldaeorum et aruspicum constituit enim,
pater, inquam, tuus, o rex ! quia spiritus amplior, et prudentia,
intelligentiaque et interpretatio somniorum, et ostensio secretorum,
ac solutio ligatorum inventae sunt in eo: hoc est in Daniele, cui rex
posuit nomen Baltassar. Nunc itaque Daniel vocetur, et interpreta-
tionem narrabit. Igitur introductus est Daniel coram rege. Ad
quern praefatus rex ait: Tu es Daniel de filiis capitivitatis Judae,
quern adduxit pater meus rex de Judaea? Audivi de te quoniam
spiritum deorum habeas, et scientia, intelligentiaque ac sapientia
ampliores inventae sunt in te. Et nunc introgressi sunt in conspectu
meo sapientes magi, ut scripturam hanc legerent, et interpretationem
ejus indicarent mihi; et nequiverunt sensum hujus sermonis edicere.
Porro ego audivi de te, quod possis obscura interpretari, et ligata
dissolver e. Si ergo vales scripturam legere, et interpretationem ejus
indicare mihi, purpura vestieris, et torquem auream circa collum tuum
habebis, et tertius in regno meo princeps eris. Ad quae respondens
Daniel, ait coram rege: Munera tua sint tibi* et dona domus tuae
alteri da; scripturam autem legam tibi, rex, et interpretationem ejus
ostendam tibi. O rex, Deus Altissimus regnum, et magnificentiam
gloriam, et honorem dedit Nabuchodonozor patri tuo. Et propter
magnificantiam, quam dederat ei, universi populi, tribus, et linguae,
tremebant, et metuebant eum. Quos volebat, interficiebat ; et quos
volebat, percutiebat; et quos volebat, exaltabat; et quos volebat,
humiliabat. Quando autem elevatum est cor ejus, et spiritus illius
obfirmatus est ad superbiam, depositus est de solio regni sui, et gloria
ejus ablata est et a filiis hominum ejectus est, sed et cor ejus cum
bestiis positum est, et cum onagris erat habitatio ejus, fcenum quoque
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Appendix
229
ut bos comedebat, et rore caeli corpus ejus infectum est, donee
cognosceret quod potestatem haberet Altissimus in regno hominum,
et quemcumque voluerit suscitabit super illud. Tu quoque filius ejus,
Baltassar, non humiliasti cor tuum, cum scires haec otpnia; sed
adversum Dominatorem caeli elevatus es, et vasa domus ejus allata
sunt coram te, et tu, et optimates tui, et uxores tuae, et concubinae
tuae vinum bibistis in eis; deos quoque argenteos et aureos et aereos,
ferreos ligneosque et lapideos, qui non vident, neque audiunt, neque
sentiunt, laudasti; porro Deum, qui habet datum tuum in manu sua,
et omnes vias tuas, non glorificasti. Idcirco ab eo missus est articulus
manus, quae scripsit hoc, quod exaratum est. Haec est autem scrip-
tura, quae digesta est: Mane, Thecel, Phares. Et haec est interpre-
tatio sermonis; Mane: numeravit Deus regnum tuum, et complevit
illud; Thecel: appensus es in statera, et inventus es minus habens;
Phares: divisum est regnum tuum, et datum est Medis, et Persis.
Tunc jubente rege indutus est Daniel purpura, et circumdata est
torques aurea collo ejus, et praedicatum est de eo quod haberet
potestatem tertius in regno suo. Eadem nocte interfectus est Baltassar
rex Chaldaeus. Et Darius Medus successit in regnum annos natus
sexaginta duos.
Parable of the Wedding Feast
Matt. 22. 1-14. Et respondens Jesus, dixit iterum in parabolis eis, dicens :
Simile factum est regnum caelorum homini regi, qui fecit nuptias filio
suo, et misit servos suos vocare invitatos ad nuptias; et nolebant
venire. Iterum misit alios servos, dicens : Dicite invitatis : Ecce
prandium meum paravi, tauri mei, et altilia occisa sunt, et omnia
parata; venite ad nuptias. Illi autem neglexerunt, et abierunt, alius
in villam suam, alius vero ad negotiationem suam . . . Tunc ait
servis suis: Nupitiae quidem paratae sunt, sed qui invitati erant, non
fuerunt digni. Ite ergo ad exitus viarum, et quoscumque inveneritis,
vocate ad nuptias. Et egressi servi ejus in vias, congregaverunt
omnes, quos invenerunt, malos et bonos : et impletae sunt nuptiae dis-
cumbentium. Intravit autem rex ut videret discumbentes, et vidit
ibi hominem non vestitum veste nuptiali. Et ait illi : Amice, quomodo
hue intrasti non habens vestem nuptialem? At ille obmutuit. Tunc
dixit rex ministris: Ligatis manibus, et pedibus ejus, mittite eum in
tenebras exteriores; ibi erit fletus, et stridor dentium. Multi enim
sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.
Luke 14. 16-24. . . . Homo quidam fecit coenam magnam, et vocavit
multos, et misit servum suum hora coenae dicere invitatis ut venirent,
quia jam parata sunt omnia. Et coeperunt simul omnes excusare.
Primus dixit ei: Viliam emi, et necesse habeo exire, et videre illam;
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230
Purity
rogo te, habe me excusatum. Et alter dixit : Juga bourn emi quinque,
et eo probare ilia; rogo te habe me excusatum. Et alius dixit:
Uxorem duxi, et ideo non possum venire. Et reversus servus
nuntiavit haec domino suo. Tunc iratus paterfamilias, dixit servo
suo: Exi cito in plateas, et vicos civitatis: et pauperes, ac debiles,
et claudos introduc hue. Et ait servus: Domine, factum est ut
imperasti, et adhuc locus est. Et ait dominus servo: Exi in vias, et
sepes: et compelle intrare, ut impleatur domus mea. Dico autem
vobis quod nemo virorum illorum, qui vocati sunt, gustabit coenam
meam.
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